BRANDON 

OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

HAROLD  BINDLOSS 


*>ROPeRyv  or* 


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BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 


BY  THE  SAME  AUTHOR 


Alton  of  Somasco 

lorimer  of  the  northwest 

Thurston  of  Orchard  Valley 

Winston  of  the  Prairie 

The  Gold  Trail 

Sydney  Carteret,  Rancher 

A  Prairie  Courtship 

Vane  of  the  Timberlands 

The  Long  Portage 

Ranching  for  Sylvia. 

Prescott  of  Saskatchewan 

The  Dust  of  Conflict 

The  Greater  Power 

Masters  of  the  Wheatlands 

Delilah  of  the  Snows 

By  Right  of  Purchase 

The  Cattle  Baron's  Daughter 

Thrice  Armed 

For  Jacinta 

The  Intriguers 

The  League  of  the  Leopard 

For  the  Allison  Honor 

The  Secret  of  the  Reef 

Harding  of  Allenwood 

The  Coast  of  Adventure 

Johnstone  of  the  Border 

Brandon  of  the  Engineers 


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YOU  MUST   COME.       I   CAN'T   LET   YOU   LIVE   AMONG   THOSE 
PLOTTERS   AND   GAMBLERS.'" — Page  224 . 


BRANDON  of 
the  ENGINEERS 


By   HAROLD  BINDLOSS 

Author  of  "Johnstone  of  the  Border,"  "Prescott 

OF  Saskatchewan,"  "Winston  of 

the  Prairie,"  etc. 


NEW  YORK 

FREDERICK  A.  STOKES  COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 


COPYRIGHT,  1916,  BY  FREDERICK  A.  STOKES  COMPANY 
PUBUSHED  IN  ENGLAND  UNDER  THE  TITLE  "HIS  ONE  TALENT" 

ALL  RIGHTS  RESERVED 


SRLg 
URL* 


f  r  ^ 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGir 

I    A  Promising  Officer i 

II    Dick's  Troubles  Begin n 

III  The  Punishment 22 

IV  Adversity •     •     34 

V    The  Concrete  Truck .44 

VI    A  Step  Up 54 

VII  Dick  Undertakes  a  Responsibility      .     65 

VIII    An  Informal  Court 75 

IX    Jake  Fuller 85 

X    La  Mignonne 97 

XI    Clare  Gets  a  Shock 107 

XII    Dick  Keeps  His  Promise 118 

XIII  The  Return  from  the  Fiesta    .     .     .129 

XIV  Complications HO 

XV    The  Missing  Coal 151 

XVI  Jake  Gets  into  Difficulties      .     .     .161 

XVII  The  Black-Funnel  Boat      .     .     .     .172 

XVIII    Dick  Gets  a  Warning 184 

XIX    Jake  Explains  Matters i94 

XX    Don  Sebastian 205 

XXI  Dick  Makes  a  Bold  Venture      .     .     .215 

XXII    The  Official  Mind 225 


CHAPTER 

XXIII 

XXIV 

XXV 

XXVI 

XXVII 

XXVIII 

XXIX 

XXX 

XXXI 

XXXII 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

The  Clamp 237 

The  Altered  Sailing  List    .....  247 

The  Water-Pipe 259 

The  Liner's  Fate 270 

The  Silver  Clasp 282 

Rough  Water 294 

Kenwardine  Takes  a  Risk    ....  304 

The  Last  Encounter 314 

Richter's  Message 326 

Ida  Interferes  .     .     .     ...,.,.     .  336 


BRANDON  OF  THE 
ENGINEERS 

CHAPTER  I 

A   PROMISING   OFFICER 

THE  lengthening  shadows  lay  blue  and  cool  be- 
neath the  alders  by  the  waterside,  though  the 
cornfields  that  rolled  back  up  the  hill  glowed  a  coppery 
yellow  in  the  light  of  the  setting  sun.  It  was  hot  and, 
for  the  most  part,  strangely  quiet  in  the  bottom  of 
the  valley  since  the  hammers  had  stopped,  but  now 
and  then  an  order  was  followed  by  a  tramp  of  feet 
and  the  rattle  of  chain-tackle.  Along  one  bank  of 
the  river  the  reflections  of  the  trees  quivered  in  dark- 
green  masses;  the  rest  of  the  water  was  dazzlingly 
bright. 

A  pontoon  bridge,  dotted  with  figures  in  khaki, 
crossed  a  deep  pool.  At  its  head,  where  a  white  road 
ran  down  the  hill,  a  detachment  of  engineers  lounged 
in  the  shade.  Their  faces  were  grimed  with  sweat 
and  dust,  and  some,  with  coats  unbuttoned,  sprawled 
in  the  grass.  They  had  toiled  hard  through  the  heat 
of  the  day,  and  now  were  enjoying  an  "easy,"  until 
they  should  be  called  to  attention  when  their  work 
was  put  to  the  test. 

As  Lieutenant  Richard  Brandon  stood  where  the 


2        BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

curve  was  boldest  at  the  middle  of  the  bridge,  he 
had  no  misgivings  about  the  result  so  far  as  the  section 
for  which  he  was  responsible  was  concerned.  He  was 
young,  but  there  was  some  ground  for  his  confidence; 
for  he  not  only  had  studied  all  that  text-books  could 
teach  him  but  he  had  the  constructor's  eye,  which  sees 
half-instinctively  where  strength  or  weakness  lies. 
Brandon  began  his  military  career  as  a  prize  cadet 
and  after  getting  his  commission  he  was  quickly  pro- 
moted from  subaltern  rank.  His  advancement,  how- 
ever, caused  no  jealousy,  for  Dick  Brandon  was  liked. 
He  was,  perhaps,  a  trifle  priggish  about  his  work  — 
cock-sure,  his  comrades  called  it  —  but  about  other 
matters  he  was  naively  ingenuous.  Indeed,  acquaint- 
ances who  knew  him  only  when  he  was  off  duty  thought 
him  something  of  a  boy. 

In  person,  he  was  tall  and  strongly  made,  with  a 
frank,  sunburned  face.  His  jaw  was  square  and 
when  he  was  thoughtful  his  lips  set  firmly;  his  light- 
gray  eyes  were  clear  and  steady.  He  was  genial  with 
his  comrades,  but  usually  diffident  in  the  company  of 
women  and  older  men. 

Presently  the  Adjutant  came  up  and,  stopping  near, 
glanced  along  the  rippling  line  that  marked  the  curve 
of  the  bridge. 

"  These  center  pontoons  look  rather  prominent,  as 
if  they'd  been  pushed  upstream  a  foot  or  two,"  he  re- 
marked. "  Was  that  done  by  Captain  Maitland's 
order?" 

"  No,  sir,"  Dick  answered  with  some  awkwardness. 
**  For  one  thing,  I  found  they'd  lie  steadier  out  of  the 
eddy." 

"  They  do,  but  I  don't  know  that  it's  much  of  an 


A  PROMISING  OFFICER  3 

advantage.     Had  you  any  other  reason  for  modifying 
the  construction  plans  ?  " 

Dick  felt  embarrassed.  He  gave  the  Adjutant  a 
quick  glance;  but  the  man's  face  was  inscrutable. 
Captain  Hallam  was  a  disciplinarian  where  discipline 
was  needed,  but  he  knew  the  value  of  what  he  called 
initiative. 

"  Well,"  Dick  tried  to  explain,  "  if  you  notice  how 
the  wash  of  the  head-rapid  sweeps  down  the  middle  of 
the  pool " 

"I  have  noticed  it,"  said  the  Adjutant  dryly. 
"  That's  why  the  bridge  makes  a  slight  sweep.  But 
go  on." 

"  We  found  a  heavy  drag  on  the  center  that  flat- 
tened the  curve.  Of  course,  if  we  could  have  pushed 
it  up  farther,  we'd  have  got  a  stronger  form." 

"Why?" 

"  It's  obvious,  sir.  If  we  disregard  the  moorings, 
a  straight  bridge  would  tend  to  curve  downstream  and 
open  out  under  a  shearing  strain.  As  we  get  nearer 
the  arch  form  it  naturally  gets  stiffer,  because  the  strain 
becomes  compressive.  After  making  the  bridge  strong 
enough  for  traffic,  the  problem  is  to  resist  the  pressure 
of  the  current." 

"  True,"  the  Adjutant  agreed  with  a  smile.  "  Well, 
we'll  let  the  pontoons  stand.  The  traditions  of  the 
British  Army  are  changing  fast,  but  while  we  don't 
demand  the  old  mechanical  obedience,  it  might  be  bet- 
ter not  to  introduce  too  marked  innovations.  Any- 
how, it's  not  desirable  that  they  should,  so  to  speak, 
strike  a  commanding  officer  in  the  eye.  Some  officers 
are  conservative  and  don't  like  that  kind  of  thing." 

He  moved  on  and  Dick  wondered  whether  he  had 


4        BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

said  too  much.  He  was  apt  to  forget  his  rank  and 
comparative  unimportance  when  technical  matters 
were  discussed.  In  fact,  it  was  sometimes  difficult 
not  to  appear  presumptuous;  but  when  one  knew  that 
one  was  right 

In  the  meantime,  the  Adjutant  met  the  Colonel,  and 
they  stopped  together  at  the  bridge-head. 

"  I  think  we  have  made  a  good  job,  but  the  bri- 
gade's transport  is  pretty  heavy,"  the  Colonel  re- 
marked. 

"  I'm  satisfied  with  the  bridge,  sir ;  very  creditable 
work  for  beginners.  If  the  other  branches  of  the  new 
armies  are  as  good " 

"  The  men  are  in  earnest.  Things,  of  course,  are 
changing,  and  I  suppose  old-fashioned  prejudices  must 
go  overboard.  Personally,  I  liked  the  type  we  had 
before  the  war,  but  we'll  let  that  go.  Young  Brandon 
strikes  me  as  particularly  keen." 

"Keen  as  mustard,"  the  Adjutant  agreed.  "In 
other  ways,  perhaps,  he's  more  of  the  kind  you  have 
been  used  to." 

"  Now  I  wonder  what  you  mean  by  that !  You're 
something  of  what  they're  pleased  to  call  a  progressive, 
aren't  you?  However,  I  like  the  lad.  His  work  is 
good." 

"  He  knows,  sir." 

"Ah,"  said  the  Colonel,  "I  think  I  understand. 
But  what  about  the  drawings  of  the  new  pontoons? 
They  must  be  sent  to-night." 

"  They're  ready.  To  tell  the  truth,  I  showed  them 
to  Brandon  and  he  made  a  good  suggestion  about  the 
rounding  of  the  waterhne." 

The  Colonel  looked  thoughtful. 


A  PROMISING  OFFICER  5 

"Well,  the  idea  of  a  combined  pontoon  and  light 
boat  that  would  carry  troops  is  by  no  means  new ;  but 
these  are  rather  an  unusual  type  and  if  it  were  known 
that  we  were  building  them,  it  might  give  the  enemy 
a  hint.  I  suppose  you  told  Brandon  the  thing's  to  be 
kept  quiet." 

"  Yes;  I  made  it  plain,"  the  Adjutant  said,  and  they 
walked  on. 

Dick  had  been  sitting  on  the  bridge,  but  he  jumped 
up  as  a  rhythmic  tramp  of  feet  came  down  the  hill- 
side. Dust  rose  among  the  cornfields  and  hung  in  a 
white  streak  along  the  edge  of  a  wood,  and  then  with 
a  twinkling  flash  of  steel,  small,  ocher-colored  figures 
swung  out  of  the  shadow.  They  came  on  in  loose 
fours,  in  an  unending  line  that  wound  down  the  steep 
slopes  and  reached  the  bridge-head.  Then  orders 
rolled  across  the  stream,  the  line  narrowed,  and  the 
measured  tramp  changed  to  a  sharp  uneven  patter. 
The  leading  platoon  were  breaking  step  as  they  crossed 
the  bridge.  Dick  frowned  impatiently.  This  was  a 
needless  precaution.  The  engineers'  work  was  good; 
it  would  stand  the  percussive  shock  of  marching  feet. 

He  stood  at  attention,  with  a  sparkle  in  his  eyes, 
as  the  hot  and  dusty  men  went  by.  They  were,  for 
the  most  part,  young  men,  newly  raised  infantry,  now 
being  hardened  and  tempered  until  they  were  fit  to  be 
used  as  the  army's  spear-head  in  some  desperate 
thrust  for  which  engineers  and  artillery  had  cleared 
the  way.  It  was  some  time  before  the  first  battalion 
crossed,  but  the  long  yellow  line  still  ran  back  up  the 
hillside  to  the  spot  at  which  it  emerged  from  the  deep- 
ening shade,  and  the  next  platoon  took  the  bridge  with 
unbroken  step.     It  swayed  and  shook  with  a  curious 


6        BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

regular  tremble  as  the  feet  came  down ;  but  there  was 
no  giving  way  of  tie  and  stringer-beam,  and  Dick  for- 
got the  men  who  were  passing,  and  thought  of  fasten- 
ings and  stressed  material. 

He  was  young  and  the  pomp  of  war  had  its  effect 
on  him,  but  the  human  element  began  to  take  second 
place.  Although  an  officer  of  the  new  army,  he  was 
first  of  all  an  engineer;  his  business  was  to  handle 
wood  and  iron  rather  than  men.  The  throb  of  the 
planks  and  the  swing  of  the  pontoons  as  the  load 
passed  over  them  fascinated  him;  and  his  interest 
deepened  when  the  transport  began  to  cross.  Sweat- 
ing, spume-flecked  horses  trod  the  quivering  timber 
with  iron-shod  hoofs ;  grinding  wheels  jarred  the  struc- 
ture as  the  wagons  passed.  He  could  feel  it  yield 
and  bend,  but  it  stood,  and  Dick  was  conscious  of  a 
strange,  emotional  thrill.  This,  in  a  sense,  was  his 
triumph;  the  first  big  task  in  which  he  had  taken  a 
man's  part ;  and  his  work  had  passed  the  test.  Taste, 
inclination,  and  interest  had  suddenly  deepened  into 
an  absorbing  love  for  his  profession. 

After  a  time,  the  Adjutant  sent  for  him  and  held 
out  a  large,  sealed  envelope. 

"  These  are  the  plans  I  showed  you,"  he  said. 
"  Colonel  Farquhar  is  driving  to  Newcastle,  and  will 
stop  at  Storeton  Grange  for  supper  at  midnight.  The 
plans  must  be  delivered  to  him  there.  You  have  a 
motorcycle,  I  think  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Very  well ;  it  is  not  a  long  ride,  but  I'll  release 
you  from  duty  now.  Don't  be  late  at  Storeton,  take 
care  of  the  papers,  and  get  Colonel  Farquhar's  re- 
ceipt." 


A  PROMISING  OFFICER  7 

There  was  a  manufacturing  town  not  far  off,  and 
Dick  decided  to  go  there  and  spend  the  evening  with 
a  cousin  of  his.  They  might  go  to  a  theater,  or  if 
not,  Lance  would  find  some  means  of  amusing  him. 
As  a  rule,  Dick  did  not  need  amusing,  but  he  felt  that 
he  must  celebrate  the  building  of  the  bridge. 

Lance  Brandon  was  becoming  known  as  an  archi- 
tect, and  he  had  a  good  deal  of  constructive  talent. 
The  physical  likeness  between  him  and  Dick  was  rather 
marked,  but  he  was  older  and  they  differed  in  other 
respects.  Lance  knew  how  to  handle  men  as  well  as 
material,  and  perhaps  he  owed  as  much  to  this  as  to 
his  artistic  skill.  His  plans  for  a  new  church  and  the 
remodeling  of  some  public  buildings  had  gained  him 
recognition;  but  he  already  was  popular  at  country 
houses  in  the  neighborhood  and  was  courted  by  the 
leading  inhabitants  of  the  town. 

Dick  and  he  dined  at  the  best  hotel  and  Lance 
listened  sympathetically  to  the  description  of  the 
bridge.  He  was  not  robust  enough  for  the  army,  but 
he  hinted  that  he  envied  Dick ;  and  Dick  felt  flattered. 
He  sometimes  bantered  Lance  about  his  social  gifts 
and  ambitions,  but  he  had  never  resented  the  favors 
his  father  had  shown  his  cousin.  Lance  had  been 
left  an  orphan  at  an  early  age  and  the  elder  Brandon  — 
a  man  of  means  and  standing  —  had  brought  him  up 
with  his  son.  They  had  been  good  friends  and  Dick 
was  pleased  when  his  father  undertook  to  give  Lance 
a  fair  start  at  the  profession  he  chose.  He  imagined 
that  now  Lance  was  beginning  to  make  his  mark,  his 
allowance  had  stopped,  but  this  was  not  his  business. 
Lance  was  a  very  good  sort,  although  he  was  clever 
in  ways  that  Dick  was  not  and  indeed  rather  despised. 


8        BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

"What  shall  we  do  next?"  Dick  asked  when  they 
had  lounged  for  a  time  in  the  smoking-room. 

Lance  made  a  gesture  of  resignation  as  he  stretched 
himself  in  a  big  chair.  He  was  dressed  with  quiet 
taste,  his  face  was  handsome  but  rather  colorless,  and 
his  movements  were  languid. 

"  You're  such  an  energetic  beggar,"  he  complained. 
"  The  only  theater  where  they  put  on  plays  worth  see- 
ing is  closed  just  now,  but  there's  a  new  dancer  at  the 
nearest  hall  and  we  might  look  in.  I  hope  my  church- 
warden patrons  won't  disapprove  if  they  hear  of  it, 
because  they  talk  about  building  an  ornamental  mis- 
sion room." 

Dick  laughed. 

"They  wouldn't  find  fault  with  you.  Somehow, 
nobody  does." 

"  There's  some  truth  in  that ;  the  secret  is  that  I 
know  when  to  stop.  One  can  enjoy  life  without  mak- 
ing the  pace  too  hot.  People  aren't  really  censorious, 
and  even  the  narrow-minded  sort  allow  you  certain 
limits;  in  fact,  I  imagine  they  rather  admire  you  if 
you  can  play  with  fire  and  not  get  singed.  Women 
do,  anyhow ;  and,  in  a  sense,  their  judgment's  logical. 
The  thing  that  doesn't  hurt  you  can't  be  injurious,  and 
it  shows  moderation  and  self-control  if  you  don't  pass 
the  danger  line." 

"  How  do  you  know  when  you  have  come  to  the 

line?"  ^      _ 

"Well,"  smiled  Lance,  "experience  helps;  but  1 
think  it's  an  instinct.  Of  course,  if  you  do  show  signs 
of  damage,  you're  done  for,  because  then  the  people 
who  envied  you  throw  the  biggest  stones." 

"Let's  start,"  said  Dick.     "I'm  not  much  of  a 


A  PROMISING  OFFICER  9 

philosopher.  Building  bridges  and  digging  saps  is 
good  enough  for  me." 

"  They're  healthy  occupations,  so  long  as  you  don't 
get  shot ;  but,  considering  everything,  it's  strange  that 
they  still  monopolize  your  interest." 

Dick  colored.  He  knew  what  his  cousin  meant. 
He  had  been  attracted  by  a  girl  of  whom  his  father 
approved  and  who  was  well-bred,  pretty,  and  rich. 
Dick  imagined  that  his  father's  views  were  agree- 
able to  Helen's  relatives  and  that  she  was  not  ignorant 
of  this.  Still,  nothing  had  been  actually  arranged, 
and  although  he  admired  Helen,  it  would  be  time 
enough  to  think  of  marriage  when  he  was  a  captain, 
for  instance. 

"  Pontoons  and  excavations  have  their  charm  for 
men  with  constructive  tastes,"  Lance  went  on ;  "  but 
you  may  find  later  that  they  don't  satisfy  all  your 
needs." 

"  Get  your  hat !  "  Dick  returned  with  a  smile,  jump- 
ing up  as  he  spoke. 

The  music-hall  was  badly  filled.  The  audience 
seemed  listless  and  the  performance  dragged.  Even 
the  much-praised  dancer  was  disappointing,  and  there 
was  an  unusual  number  of  shabby  loungers  in  the  bar. 
Dick  had  come  prepared  to  enjoy  himself  after  a  day 
of  arduous  work,  and  by  way  of  doing  so,  he  ordered 
a  drink  or  two  that  he  did  not  really  want.  As  a 
rule,  he  was  abstemious,  but  the  hall  was  very  hot. 
It  struck  him  as  glaring  and  tawdry  after  the  quiet 
dale  where  the  water  sparkled  among  the  stones ;  and 
the  pallid  loungers  with  their  stamp  of  indulgence 
differed  unpleasantly  from  the  hard,  brown-faced  men 
he  led. 


lo      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

"  Let's  clear  out,"  he  said  at  last.  "  Is  there  any- 
where else  to  go  ?  " 

"  My  rooms,"  Lance  suggested. 

"  Oh,  I  want  something  fresh  to-night,"  Dick  re- 
plied with  a  smile. 

Lance  pondered. 

"  Well,  I  can  show  you  some  keen  card-play  and 
perhaps  a  clever  game  of  billiards,  besides  a  girl  who's 
a  great  deal  prettier  than  the  dancer.  But  it's  four 
miles  out  of  town." 

Dick  glanced  at  his  watch. 

"  I  can  take  you  on  the  carrier,"  he  said.  "  I've 
plenty  of  time  yet." 

They  set  off,  and  presently  stopped  at  a  tall  iron 
gate  on  the  edge  of  a  firwood.  A  glimmer  of  lights 
indicated  that  a  house  stood  at  the  end  of  the  drive. 

"  Kenwardine  will  be  glad  to  receive  you  as  a  friend 
of  mine,"  Lance  said ;  "  and  you  needn't  play  unless 
you  like.  He's  fond  of  company  and  generally  has 
a  number  of  young  men  about  the  place." 

"  A  private  gambling  club?  " 

"  Oh,  no.  You're  very  far  from  the  mark.  Ken- 
wardine certainly  likes  a  bet  and  sometimes  runs  a 
bank,  but  all  he  wins  wouldn't  do  much  to  keep  up  a 
place  like  this.     However,  you  can  see  for  yourself." 

Dick  was  not  a  gambler  and  did  not  play  many 
games,  but  he  wanted  a  little  excitement,  and  he  looked 
forward  to  it  as  he  followed  his  cousin  up  the  drive. 


CHAPTER  II 
dick's  troubles  begin 

IT  was  with  mixed  feelings  that  Clare  Kenwardine 
got  down  from  the  stopping  train  at  a  quiet  sta- 
tion and  waited  for  the  trap  to  take  her  home.  The 
trap  was  not  in  sight,  but  this  did  not  surprise  her, 
for  nobody  in  her  father's  household  was  punctual. 
Clare  sometimes  wondered  why  the  elderly  groom- 
gardener,  whose  wages  were  very  irregularly  paid, 
stayed  on,  unless  it  was  because  his  weakness  for 
liquor  prevented  his  getting  a  better  post;  but  the 
servants  liked  her  father,  for  he  seldom  found  fault 
with  them.  Kenwardine  had  a  curious  charm,  which 
his  daughter  felt  as  strongly  as  anybody  else,  though 
she  was  beginning  to  see  his  failings  and  had,  indeed, 
been  somewhat  shocked  when  she  came  home  to  live 
with  him  not  long  before. 

Now  she  knitted  her  level  brows  as  she  sat  down 
and  looked  up  the  straight,  white  road.  It  ran 
through  pastures,  and  yellow  cornfields  where  harvest- 
ers were  at  work,  to  a  moor  on  which  the  ling  glowed 
red  in  the  fading  light.  Near  the  station  a  dark  fir- 
wood  stretched  back  among  the  fields  and  a  row  of 
beeches  rose  in  dense  masses  of  foliage  beside  the 
road.  There  was  no  sound  except  the  soft  splash  of 
a  stream.  Everything  was  peaceful ;  but  Clare  was 
young,   and  tranquillity  was  not   what   she   desired. 

II 


12      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

She  had,  indeed,  had  too  much  of  it  in  the  sleepy 
cathedral  town  she  had  left. 

Her  difficulty  was  that  she  felt  drawn  in  two  dif- 
ferent ways;  for  she  had  inherited  something  of  her 
father's  recklessness  and  love  of  pleasure,  though  her 
mother,  who  died  when  Clare  was  young,  had  been 
a  shy  Puritan.  Clare  was  kept  at  school  much  longer 
than  usual;  and  when  she  insisted  on  coming  home 
she  found  herself  puzzled  by  her  father's  way  of  liv- 
ing. Young  men,  and  particularly  army  officers,  fre- 
quented the  house ;  stylish  women  came  down  from 
town,  often  without  their  husbands;  and  there  was 
generally  some  exciting  amusement  going  on.  This 
had  its  attraction  for  Clare;  but  her  delicate  refine- 
ment was  sometimes  offended,  and  once  she  was  even 
alarmed.  One  of  the  young  men  had  shown  his  ad- 
miration for  her  in  a  way  that  jarred,  and  soon  after- 
ward there  had  been  a  brawl  over  a  game  of  cards. 

Kenvvardine  had  then  suggested  that  she  make  a 
long  visit  to  her  aunts,  in  the  cathedral  town.  They 
had  received  her  gladly  but  she  soon  found  her  stay 
there  irksome.  The  aunts  were  austere,  religious 
women,  who  moved  in  a  narrow  groove  and  ordered 
all  their  doings  by  a  worn-out  social  code.  Still,  they 
were  kind  and  gave  Clare  to  understand  that  she  was 
to  stay  with  them  always  and  have  no  more  to  do  with 
Kenwardine  than  duty  demanded.  The  girl  rebelled. 
She  shrank  with  innate  dislike  from  license  and  dis- 
sipation, but  the  life  her  aunts  led  was  dreary,  and  she 
could  not  give  up  her  father.  Though  inexperienced, 
she  was  intelligent  and  she  saw  that  her  path  would  not 
be  altogether  smooth  now  that  she  was  going  home  for 
good.     While  she  thought  about  it,  the  trap  arrived 


DICK'S  TROUBLES  BEGIN  13 

and  the  shabby  groom  drove  her  up  the  hill  with  con- 
fused apologies. 

An  hour  or  two  after  Clare  reached  home,  Lance 
and  Dick  Brandon  entered  the  house  and  were  met 
by  Kenwardine  in  the  hall.  He  wore  a  velvet  jacket 
over  his  evening  clothes  and  Dick  noticed  a  wine-stain 
on  the  breast.  He  was  thin,  but  his  figure  was  ath- 
letic, although  his  hair  was  turning  gray  and  there 
were  wrinkles  about  his  eyes. 

"  Very  glad  to  see  your  cousin,"  he  said  to  Lance, 
and  turned  to  Dick  with  a  smile.  "  Soldiers  have  a 
particular  claim  on  our  hospitality,  but  my  house  is 
open  to  anybody  of  cheerful  frame  of  mind.  One 
must  relax  now  and  then  in  times  like  these." 

"  That's  why  I  brought  Dick,"  Lance  replied.  "  He 
believes  in  tension.  But  I  wonder  whether  your  no- 
tion of  relaxing  is  getting  lax  ?  " 

"  There's  a  difference,  though  it's  sometimes  rather 
fine,"  Kenwardine  answered  with  a  twinkle.  "  But 
come  in  and  amuse  yourselves  as  you  like.  If  you 
want  a  drink,  you  know  where  to  find  it." 

They  played  a  game  of  billiards  and  then  went  into 
another  room,  where  Dick  lost  a  sovereign  to  Ken- 
wardine. After  that,  he  sat  in  a  corner,  smoking  and 
languidly  looking  about,  for  he  had  been  hard  at  work 
since  early  morning.  Two  or  three  subaltern  officers 
from  a  neighboring  camp  stood  by  the  table,  besides 
several  other  men  whose  sunburned  faces  indicated  a 
country  life.  The  carpets  and  furniture  were  getting 
shabby,  but  the  room  was  large  and  handsome,  with 
well-molded  cornices  and  paneled  ceiling.  The  play 
was  not  high  and  the  men  were  quiet,  but  the  room 
was  filled  with  cigar  smoke  and  there  was  a  smell  of 


14      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

liquor.  Dick  did  not  object  to  drink  and  gambling 
in  moderation,  though  it  was  seldom  that  he  indulged 
in  either.  He  found  no  satisfaction  in  that  sort  of 
thing,  and  he  now  felt  that  some  of  Kenwardine's 
friends  would  do  better  to  join  the  new  armies  than 
to  waste  their  time  as  they  were  doing. 
At  last  Kenwardine  threw  down  the  cards.  ^ 
"  I  think  we  have  had  enough  for  a  time,"  he  said. 
"  Shall  we  go  into  the  music-room,  for  a  change  ?  " 

Dick  followed  the  others,  and  looked  up  with  sur- 
prise when  Clare  came  in.     Lance  had  spoken  of  a 
pretty  girl,  but  she  was  not  the  type  Dick  had  expected. 
She  wore  a  very  plain  white  dress,  with  touches  of 
blue  that  emphasized  her  delicate  coloring.     Her  hair 
was  a  warm  yellow  with  deeper  tones,  her  features 
were  regular  and  well-defined,  and  Dick  liked  the  level 
glance    of    her    clear,   blue    eyes.     He   thought   they 
rested   on   him   curiously    for   a   moment.     She   had 
Kenwardine's   slender,  well-balanced   figure,   and  her 
movements  were  graceful,  but  Dick's  strongest  im- 
pression was  that  she  was  out  of  place.     Though  per- 
fectly at  ease,  she  did  not  fit  into  her  environment: 
she  had  a  freshness  that  did  not  harmonize  with  cigar 
smoke  and  the  smell  of  drink. 

Qare  gave  him  a  pleasant  smile  when  he  was  pre- 
sented, and  after  speaking  to  one  or  two  of  the  others 
she  went  to  the  piano  when  Kenwardine  asked  her  to 
sing  Dick,  who  was  sitting  nearest  the  instrument, 
stooped  to  take  a  bundle  of  music  from  a  cabinet  she 

opened.  j, 

"  No,"  she  said;  "  you  may  put  those  down,  l  m 
afraid  'we  have  nothing  quite  so  good,  and  perhaps 


DICK'S  TROUBLES  BEGIN  15 

it's  silly,  but  I've  fallen  back  on  our  own  composers 
since  the  fourth  of  August." 

Dick  spread  out  the  music,  to  display  the  titles. - 

"  These  fellows  have  been  dead  some  time,"  he 
argued  humorously.  "  They'd  probably  disown  their 
descendants  if  they'd  survived  until  now.  But  here's 
a  Frenchman's  work.  They're  on  our  side,  and  his 
stuff  is  pretty  good,  isn't  it  ?  " 

Clare  smiled. 

"  Yes,"  she  said,  "  it's  certainly  good ;  but  I'd  rather 
sing  something  English  to-night." 

She  began  a  patriotic  ballad  Dick  knew  and  liked. 
He  was  not  much  of  a  musician,  but  his  taste  was 
good.  The  song  rang  true;  it  was  poetry  and  not 
warlike  jingle,  but  he  had  not  heard  it  sung  so  well 
before.  Clare's  voice  had  been  carefully  trained  and 
she  used  it  well,  but  he  knew  that  she  had  grasped  the 
spirit  of  the  song.  One  or  two  of  the  men  who  had 
been  sitting  got  up,  two  young  subalterns  stood  very 
stiff  and  straight,  but  Dick  noted  that  Kenwardine  did 
not  change  his  lounging  attitude.  He  was  smiling, 
and  Lance,  glancing  at  him,  looked  amused.  Dick 
remembered  this  afterward,  but  he  now  felt  that  Lance 
was  not  quite  showing  his  usual  good  form. 

When  the  song  was  finished,  Dick  turned  to  Clare. 
He  wanted  to  begin  talking  to  her  before  anybody 
else  came  up. 

"  It  was  very  fine.  I  don't  understand  the  tech- 
nique of  music,  but  one  felt  that  you  got  the  song 
just  right.  And  then,  the  way  you  brought  out  the 
idea!" 

"  That  is  what  the  mechanical  part  is  for,"  she  an- 


i6      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

swered  with  a  smile  and  a  touch  of  color.  "As  it 
happens,  I  saw  an  infantry  brigade  on  the  march 
to-day,  and  watched  the  long  line  of  men  go  by  in 
the  dust  and  sun.  Perhaps  that  helps  one  to  under- 
stand." 

"  Did  you  see  them  cross  the  bridge?  "  Dick  asked 

eagerly. 

"No,"  she  answered;  and  he  felt  absurdly  disap- 
pointed. He  would  have  liked  to  think  that  his  work 
had  helped  her  to  sing. 

"  Have  you  another  like  the  first?  "  he  asked. 

"  I  never  sing  more  than  once,"  she  smiled.  Then 
as  Lance  and  another  man  came  toward  them,  she 
added,  glancing  at  an  open  French  window:  "Be- 
sides, the  room  is  very  hot.  It  would  be  cooler  in  the 
garden." 

Dick  was  not  a  man  of  affairs,  but  he  was  not  a 
fool.  He  knew  that  Clare  Kenwardine  was  not  the 
girl  to  attempt  his  captivation  merely  because  he  had 
shown  himself  susceptible.  She  wanted  him  to  keep 
the  others  off,  and  he  thought  he  understood  this  as 
he  glanced  at  Lance's  companion.  The  fellow  had  a 
coarse,  red  face  and  looked  dissipated,  and  even  Lance's 
well-bred  air  was  somehow  not  so  marked  as  usual. 
Well,  he  was  willing  that  she  should  make  any  use  of 
him  that  she  liked. 

They  passed  the  others,  and  after  stopping  to  tell 
Kenwardine  that  she  was  going  out,  Clare  drew  back 
a  curtain  that  covered  part  of  the  window.  Dick 
stepped  across  the  ledge  and,  seeing  that  the  stairs 
below  were  iron  and  rather  slippery,  held  out  his  hand 
to  Clare.  The  curtain  swung  back  and  cut  off  the 
light,  and  when  they  were  near  the  bottom  the  girl 


DICK'S  TROUBLES  BEGIN  17 

tripped  and  clutched  him.  Her  hand  swept  down- 
ward from  his  shoulder  across  his  chest  and  caught 
the  outside  pocket  of  his  coat,  while  he  grasped  her 
waist  to  steady  her. 

"  Thank  you,"  she  said.  "  I  was  clumsy,  but  the 
steps  are  awkward  and  my  shoes  are  smooth." 

Dick  was  glad  it  was  dark,  for  he  felt  confused. 
The  girl  had  rested  upon  him  for  a  moment  and  it 
had  given  him  a  thrill. 

They  crossed  the  broad  lawn.  Half  of  it  lay  in 
shadow,  for  a  wood  that  rolled  up  a  neighboring  hill- 
side cut  off  the  light  of  the  low,  half  moon.  The 
air  was  still,  it  was  too  warm  for  dew,  and  there  was 
a  smell  of  flowers  —  stocks,  Dick  thought,  and  he  re- 
membered their  pungent  sweetness  afterward  when  he 
recalled  that  night.  Clare  kept  in  the  moonlight,  and 
he  noted  the  elusive  glimmer  of  her  white  dress.  She 
wore  no  hat  or  wrap,  and  the  pale  illumination  em- 
phasized the  slenderness  of  her  figure  and  lent  her  an 
ethereal  grace. 

They  stopped  at  a  bench  beneath  a  copper-beech, 
where  the  shadow  of  the  leaves  checkered  with  dark 
blotches  the  girl's  white  draperies  and  Dick's  uni- 
form. Some  of  the  others  had  come  out,  for  there 
were  voices  in  the  gloom. 

"  Perhaps  you  wonder  why  I  brought  you  here," 
Clare  said  frankly. 

"  No,"  Dick  answered.  "  If  you  had  any  reason, 
I'm  not  curious.     And  I'd  rather  be  outside." 

"  Well,"  she  said,  "  the  light  was  rather  glaring 
and  the  room  very  hot."  She  paused  and  added: 
"  Mr.  Brandon's  your  cousin  ?  " 

"  He  is,  and  a  very  good  sort.     He  brought  me 


i8      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

to-night,  but  I  felt  that  it  was,  perhaps,  something  of 
an  intrusion  when  you  came  in." 
"You  didn't  feel  that  before?" 
Dick  knew  that  he  was  on  dangerous  ground.     He 
must  not  admit  that  he  suspected  Kenwardine's  mo- 
tive for  receiving  promiscuous  guests. 

"Well,  not  to  the  same  extent.  You  see.  Lance 
knows  everybody  and  everybody  likes  him.  I  thought 
I  might  be  welcome  for  his  sake." 

"  It's  plain  that  you  are  fond  of  your  cousin.  But 
why  did  you  imagine  that  I  should  think  your  visit 
fm  intrusion  ?  " 

Dick  was  glad  he  sat  in  the  shadow,  for  his  face 
was  getting  hot.  He  could  not  hint  that  he  had  ex- 
pected to  find  a  rather  daring  coquette  —  the  kind  of 
girl,  in  fact,  one  would  imagine  a  semi-professional 
gambler's  daughter  to  be.  It  now  seemed  possible 
that  he  had  misjudged  Kenwardine;  and  he  had  cer- 
tainly misjudged  Clare.  The  girl's  surroundings  were 
powerless  to  smirch  her :     Dick  was  sure  of  that. 

"Oh,  well,"  he  answered  awkwardly,  "although 
Lance  obviously  knows  your  father  pretty  well,  it 
doesn't  follow  that  he's  a  friend  of  yours." 

"  It  does  not,"  she  said  in  a  curious  tone.  "  But 
do  you  know  the  man  he  was  with?  " 

"I  never   saw  him  before,  and  somehow  I  don't 
feel  anxious  to  improve  his  acquaintance." 
Clare  laughed. 

"  That's  a  quick  decision,  isn't  it  ?  Are  you  a  judge 
of  character?"  she  asked. 

"  I  have  been  badly  mistaken,"  Dick  admitted  with 
a  smile.     "  Still,  I  know  the  people  I'm  going  to  like. 


DICK'S  TROUBLES  BEGIN  19 

How  is  it  I  haven't  seen  you  about?  We're  not  very 
far  off  and  most  of  the  people  in  the  neighborhood 
have  driven  over  to  our  camp." 

"  I  only  came  home  to-night,  after  being  av^^ay  for 
some  time." 

Dick  was  relieved  to  learn  this.  He  did  not  like 
to  think  of  her  living  at  Kenwardine's  house  and  meet- 
ing his  friends.  It  was  scarcely  half  an  hour  since 
he  met  Clare  Kenwardine,  but  she  had,  quite  uncon- 
sciously he  thought,  strongly  impressed  him.  In  fact, 
he  felt  rather  guilty  about  it.  Since  he  was,  in  a  man- 
ner, expected  to  marry  some  one  else,  he  had  no  busi- 
ness to  enjoy  yielding  to  this  stranger's  charm  and  to 
thrill  at  her  touch. 

They  sat  in  silence  for  a  few  moments,  and  then 
Lance  strolled  up  with  his  companion. 

"  Don't  forget  the  time,  Dick,"  he  remarked  as  he 
passed.  "You  mustn't  let  him  keep  you  too  long. 
Miss  Kenwardine.  He  has  an  important  errand  to 
do  for  his  colonel." 

"If  you  don't  mind,  I  won't  go  just  yet,"  Dick 
said  to  Clare;  and  understood  from  her  silence  that 
she  did  not  want  to  dismiss  him. 

For  the  first  time  since  they  were  boys,  he  was 
angry  with  his  cousin.  It  looked  as  if  Lance  had 
meant  to  take  him  away  when  Miss  Kenwardine 
needed  him.  He  was  flattered  to  think  she  preferred 
his  society  to  the  red-faced  man's,  and  had  used  him 
to  keep  the  other  at  a  distance.  Well,  he  would  stay 
to  the  last  minute  and  protect  her  from  the  fellow, 
or  from  anybody  else. 

A  little  later  Kenwardine  joined  them,  and  Dick 


20      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

knew  that  he  must  go.  Clare  gave  him  her  hand  with 
a  quick,  grateful  look  that  made  his  heart  beat,  and 
Lance  met  him  as  he  went  into  the  house. 

"  You're  cutting  it  very  fine,"  he  said.  "  Come 
along;  here's  your  cap." 

"  In  a  moment !  There's  an  infantry  man  I  asked 
over  to  our  camp." 

"You  haven't  time  to  look  for  him,"  Lance  an- 
swered, and  good-humoredly  pushed  Dick  into  the 
hall.  "  Get  off  at  once !  A  fellow  I  know  will  give 
me  a  lift  home." 

Dick  ran  down  the  drive  and  a  few  moments  later 
his  motorcycle  was  humming  up  the  road.  He  sped 
through  a  dark  firwood,  where  the  cool  air  was  filled 
with  resinous  scent,  and  out  across  a  hillside  down 
which  the  stooked  sheaves  stood  in  silvery  rows,  but 
he  noticed  nothing  except  that  the  white  strip  of  road 
was  clear  in  front.  His  thoughts  were  back  in  the 
garden  with  Clare  Kenwardine,  and  he  could  smell 
the  clogging  sweetness  of  the  stocks.  This  was  folly, 
and  he  changed  the  gear  on  moderate  hills  and  altered 
the  control  when  the  engine  did  not  need  it,  to  occupy 
his  mind ;  but  the  picture  of  the  girl  he  carried  away 
with  him  would  not  be  banished. 

For  all  that,  he  reached  Storeton  Grange  in  time 
and,  running  up  the  drive,  saw  lights  in  the  windows 
and  a  car  waiting  at  the  door.  Getting  down  and 
stating  his  business,  he  was  shown  into  a  room  where 
a  stern- faced  man  in  uniform  sat  talking  to  another 
in  evening  clothes. 

"I  understand  you  come  from  Captain  Hallam," 
said  the  Colonel. 

"  Yes,  sir.     He  sent  me  with  some  papers." 

"You  know  what  they  are?" 


DICK'S  TROUBLES  BEGIN  21 

"  Plans  of  pontoons,  sir." 

"  Very  well,"  said  the  Colonel,  taking  out  a  foun- 
tain pen.     "  Let  me  have  them." 

Dick  put  his  hand  into  his  breastpocket,  which  was 
on  the  outside  of  his  coat.  The  pocket  was  unbut- 
toned, and  the  big  envelope  had  gone.  He  hurriedly 
felt  the  other  pockets,  but  they  too  were  empty,  and  his 
face  got  red. 

The  Colonel  looked  hard  at  him,  and  then  made  a 
sign  to  the  other  man,  who  quietly  went  out. 

"  You  haven't  got  the  plans !  Did  you  leave  them 
behind?" 

"No,  sir,"  Dick  said  awkwardly.  "I  felt  to  see 
if  they  were  in  my  pocket  when  I  left  the  camp." 

The  Colonel's  face  hardened. 

"  Did  you  come  straight  here  ?  " 

"  No,  sir.     I  had  an  hour  or  two's  leave." 

"And  spent  it  with  your  friends?  Had  you  any- 
thing to  drink?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  As  much  as,  or  more  than,  usual  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  a  little  more,"  Dick  said  in  confusion. 

The  Colonel  studied  him  with  searching  eyes;  and 
then  took  some  paper  from  a  case  on  the  table  and 
began  to  write.  He  put  the  note  in  an  envelope  and 
gave  it  to  Dick. 

"  It's  your  Commanding  Officer's  business  to  in- 
vestigate the  matter  and  you'll  take  him  this.  Report 
yourself  to  him  or  to  the  Adjutant  when  you  reach 
camp.     I'll  telegraph  to  see  if  you  have  done  so." 

He  raised  his  hand  in  sign  of  dismissal  and  Dick 
went  out,  crushed  with  shame,  and  feeling  that  he  was 
already  under  arrest.  If  he  were  not  in  camp  when 
the  telegram  came,  he  would  be  treated  as  a  deserter. 


CHAPTER  III 

THE   PUNISHMENT 

ON  reaching  camp  and  reporting  himself,  Dick  was 
sent  to  his  tent,  where  he  slept  until  he  was 
aroused  by  the  bustle  at  reveille.  He  had  not  ex- 
pected to  sleep ;  but  he  was  young  and  physically  tired, 
and  the  shock  of  trouble  had,  as  sometimes  happens,  a 
numbing  effect.  He  awoke  refreshed  and  composed, 
though  his  heart  was  heavy  as  he  dressed,  because  he 
feared  it  was  the  last  time  that  he  would  wear  his 
country's  uniform.  The  suspense  was  trying  as  he 
waited  until  the  morning  parade  was  over;  then  he 
was  summoned  to  a  tent  where  the  Colonel  and  the 
Adjutant  sat. 

"  I  have  a  telegram  asking  if  you  have  arrived,"  the 
Colonel  said  in  a  curious,  dry  tone.  "  You  must  un- 
derstand that  you  have  laid  yourself  open  to  grave 
suspicion." 

"Yes,"  Dick  answered,  wondering  whether  the 
Colonel  meant  that  it  might  have  been  better  if  he  had 
run  away. 

"Very  well.  You  admitted  having  received  the 
plans.     What  did  you  do  with  them?  " 

"Buttoned  them  into  the  left  pocket  of  my  coat. 
When  I  got  to  Storeton,  the  envelope  was  gone." 

"  How  do  you  account  for  that  ?  " 

"  I  can't  account  for  it,  sir." 

22 


THE  PUNISHMENT  23 

The  Colonel  was  silent  for  a  few  moments,  and  then 
he  looked  fixedly  at  Dick. 

"Your  statements  were  very  unsatisfactory  last 
night,  and  now  that  you  have  had  time  to  think  over  the 
matter,  I  advise  you  to  be  frank.  It's  plain  that  you 
have  been  guilty  of  gross  negligence,  but  that  is  not 
the  worst.  The  drawings  are  of  no  direct  use  to  the 
enemy,  but  if  they  fell  into  their  hands  they  might 
supply  a  valuable  hint  of  the  use  to  which  we  mean 
to  put  the  pontoons.     You  see  what  this  implies  ?  "  ^ 

"  I  don't  know  how  we  mean  to  use  them,  sir, 
and  I  don't  want  to  hide  anything." 

"That's  a  wise  resolve,"  the  Colonel  answered 
meaningly;  and  Dick  colored.  After  all,  there  was 
something  he  meant  to  hide. 

"  You  took  the  plans  with  you  when  you  left  the 
camp,  three  or  four  hours  before  you  were  due  at 
Storeton,"  said  the  Adjutant.     "  Where  did  you  go?  " 

"  To  my  cousin's  rooms  in  the  town." 

"  Mr.  Lance  Brandon's,"  said  the  Adjutant  thought- 
fully.    "Did  you  stay  there?" 

"  No;  we  dined  at  The  George." 

"  A  well-conducted  house,"  the  Adjutant  remarked. 
"  You  took  some  wine  at  dinner  ?  " 

"  Two  glasses  of  light  claret." 

"  Then  where  did  you  go  next?  " 

"  To  the  new  music-hall." 

"  And  ordered  drinks  in  the  bar !    Who  suggested 

this?" 

"I  can't  remember,"  Dick  replied  with  an  angry 
flush.  "Of  course,  I  see  where  you're  leading,  but 
I  was  quite  sober  when  I  left  the  hall." 

The  Adjutant's  expression  puzzled  him.     He  had 


24      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

felt  that  the  man  was  not  unfriendly,  and  now  he 
looked  disappointed. 

"  I'm  not  sure  your  statement  makes  things  better," 
the  Colonel  observed  with  some  dryness.  "  Did  you 
go  straight  to  Storeton  from  the  hall  ?  " 

"  No,  sir.     I  spent  an  hour  at  a  friend's  house." 

"  Whose  house  was  it  ?  " 

Dick  pondered  for  a  few  moments,  and  then  looked 
up  resolutely. 

"  I  must  decline  to  answer,  sir.  I've  lost  the  plans 
and  must  take  the  consequences;  but  I  don't  see  why 
my  private  friends,  who  have  nothing  to  do  with  it, 
should  be  involved  in  the  trouble." 

The  Adjutant  leaned  forward  across  the  table  and 
said  something  quietly  to  the  Colonel,  and  neither  of 
them  spoke  for  the  next  minute  or  two.  Dick  was 
sensible  of  physical  as  well  as  mental  strain  as  he 
stood  stiffly  in  the  middle  of  the  tent.  His  knees  felt 
weak,  little  quivers  ran  through  his  limbs,  and  a  ray 
of  hot  sunshine  struck  through  the  hooked-back  flap 
into  his  face,  but  he  dared  not  relax  his  rigid  pose. 

The  two  officers  looked  puzzled  but  grave. 

"  Go  back  to  your  tent  and  stay  there  until  I  send 
for  you,"  the  Colonel  said  at  last. 

Dick  saluted  and  went  out,  and  when  he  sat  down 
on  his  camp-bed  he  moodily  lighted  a  cigarette  and 
tried  to  think.  His  military  career  was  ended  and 
he  was  ruined;  but  this  was  not  what  occupied  him 
most.  He  was  wondering  whether  Clare  Kenwardine 
had  taken  the  plans.  If  so,  it  was  his  duty  to  accuse 
her ;  but,  actuated  by  some  mysterious  impulse,  he  had 
refused. 

The  longer  he  thought  about  it,  the  clearer  her 


THE  PUNISHMENT  25 

guilt  became.  He  was  a  stranger  and  yet  she  had 
suggested  a  stroll  through  the  garden  and  had  slipped 
and  clutched  him  as  they  went  down  the  steps.  Her 
hand  had  rested  on  the  pocket  in  which  the  envelope 
was.  She  was  the  daughter  of  a  man  who  kept  a 
private  gaming  house;  it  was  not  surprising  that  she 
was  an  adventuress  and  had  deceived  him  by  her 
clever  acting.  For  all  that,  he  could  not  condemn  her ; 
there  was  a  shadow  of  doubt;  and  even  if  she  were 
guilty,  she  had  yielded  to  some  strong  pressure  from 
her  father.  His  feelings,  however,  were  puzzling. 
He  had  spent  less  than  an  hour  in  her  society  and  she 
had  ruined  him,  but  he  knew  that  he  would  remember 
her  as  long  as  he  lived. 

Dick's  common  sense  led  him  to  smile  bitterly.  He 
was  behaving  like  a  sentimental  fool.  On  the  whole, 
it  was  a  relief  when  the  Adjutant  came  in. 

"  You  must  have  known  what  the  Colonel's  decision 
would  be,"  he  said  with  a  hint  of  regret.  "  You're 
to  be  court-martialed.  If  you  take  my  advice,  you'll 
keep  nothing  back." 

The  court-martial  was  over  and  Dick  could  not 
question  the  justice  of  its  sentence  —  he  was  dismissed 
from  the  army.  Indeed,  it  was  better  than  he  had  ex- 
pected. Somewhat  to  his  surprise,  the  Adjutant 
afterward  saw  him  alone. 

"  I'm  thankful  our  official  duty's  done,"  he  said. 
"  Of  course,  I'm  taking  an  irregular  line,  and  if  you 
prefer  not  to  talk  — " 

"You  made  me  feel  that  you  wanted  to  be  my 
friend,"  Dick  replied  awkwardly. 

"  Then  I  may,  perhaps,  remark  that  you  made  a 


26      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

bad  defense.  In  the  army,  it's  better  to  tell  a  plausible 
tale  and  stick  to  it;  we  like  an  obvious  explanation. 
Now  if  you  had  admitted  being  slightly  drunk." 

"  But  I  was  sober !  " 

The  Adjutant  smiled  impatiently. 

"So  much  the  worse  for  you!  If  you  had  been 
drunk,  you'd  have  been  turned  out  all  the  same,  but 
the  reason  would  have  been,  so  to  speak,  satisfactory. 
Now  you're  tainted  by  a  worse  suspicion.  Personally, 
I  don't  think  the  lost  plans  have  any  value,  but  if  they 
had,  it  might  have  gone  very  hard  with  you."  He 
paused  and  gave  Dick  a  friendly  glance.  "  Well,  in 
parting,  I'll  give  you  a  bit  of  advice.  Stick  to  engi- 
neering, which  you  have  a  talent  for." 

He  went  out  and  not  long  afterward  Dick  left  the 
camp  in  civilian's  clothes,  but  stopped  his  motorcycle 
on  the  hill  and  stood  looking  back  -with  a  pain  at  his 
heart.  He  saw  the  rows  of  tents  stretched  across  the 
smooth  pasture,  the  flag  he  had  been  proud  to  serve 
languidly  flapping  on  the  gentle  breeze,  and  the  water 
sparkling  about  the  bridge.  Along  the  riverside,  bare- 
armed  men  in  shirts  and  trousers  were  throwing  up 
banks  of  soil  with  shovels  that  flashed  in  the  strong 
light.  He  could  see  their  cheerful  brown  faces  and 
a  smart  young  subaltern  taking  out  a  measuring  line. 
Dick  liked  the  boy,  who  now  no  doubt  would  pass  him 
without  a  look,  and  he  envied  him  with  the  keenest 
envy  he  had  ever  felt.  He  had  loved  his  profession; 
and  he  was  turned  out  of  it  in  disgrace. 

It  was  evening  when  he  stood  in  the  spacious  library 
at  home,  glad  that  the  light  was  fading,  as  he  con- 
fronted his  father,  who  sat  with  grim  face  in  a  big 
leather  chair.     Dick  had  no  brothers  and  sisters,  and 


THE  PUNISHMENT  27 

his  mother  had  died  long  before.  He  had  not  Hved 
much  at  home,  and  had  been  on  good,  more  than  af- 
fectionate, terms  with  his  father.  Indeed,  their  re- 
lations were  marked  by  mutual  indulgence,  for  Dick 
had  no  interest  outside  his  profession,  while  Mr. 
Brandon  occupied  himself  with  politics  and  enjoyed 
his  prominent  place  in  local  society.  He  was  conven- 
tional and  his  manners  were  formal  and  dignified,  but 
Dick  thought  him  very  much  like  Lance,  although  he 
had  not  Lance's  genial  humor. 

"  Well,"  he  said  when  Dick  had  finished,  "  you  have 
made  a  very  bad  mess  of  things  and  it  is,  of  course, 
impossible  that  you  should  remain  here.  In  fact,  you 
have  rendered  it  difficult  for  me  to  meet  my  neighbors 
and  take  my  usual  part  in  public  affairs." 

This  was  the  line  Dick  had  expected  him  to  take. 
It  was  his  father's  pride  he  had  wounded  and  not  his 
heart.  He  did  not  know  what  to  say  and,  turning 
his  head,  he  looked  moodily  out  of  the  open  window. 
The  lawn  outside  was  beautifully  kept  and  the  flower- 
borders  were  a  blaze  of  tastefully  assorted  colors,  but 
there  was  something  artificial  and  conventional  about 
the  garden  that  was  as  marked  in  the  house.  Some- 
how Dick  had  never  really  thought  of  the  place  as 
home. 

"  I  mean  to  go  away,"  he  said  awkwardly. 

"  The  puzzling  thing  is  that  you  should  deny  hav- 
ing drunk  too  much,"  Brandon  resumed. 

"  But  I  hadn't  done  so !  You  look  at  it  as  the 
others  did.  Why  should  it  make  matters  better  if 
I'd  owned  to  being  drunk  ?  " 

"  Drunkenness,"  his  father  answered,  "  is  now  an 
offense  against  good  taste,  but  not  long  ago  it  was 


28      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

thought  a  rather  gentlemanly  vice,  and  a  certain  tolera- 
tion is  still  extended  to  the  man  who  does  wrong  in 
liquor.  Perhaps  this  isn't  logical,  but  you  must  take 
the  world  as  you  find  it.  I  had  expected  you  to  learn 
more  in  the  army  than  you  seem  to  have  picked  up. 
Did  you  imagine  that  your  promotion  depended  alto- 
gether   upon    your    planning    trenches    and    gun-pits 

well?" 

"  That  kind  of  thing  is  going  to  count  m  the  new 
armies,"  Dick  replied.  "Being  popular  on  guest- 
night  at  the  mess  won't  help  a  man  to  hold  his  trench 
or  work  his  gun  under  heavy  fire." 

Brandon  frowned. 

"  You  won't  have  an  opportunity  for  showing  what 
you  can  do.  I  don't  know  where  you  got  your  utili- 
tarian, radical  views;  but  we'll  keep  to  the  point. 
Where  do  you  think  of  going?  " 

"  To  New  York,  to  begin  with." 

"Why  not  Montreal  or  Cape  Town?" 

"Well,"  Dick  said  awkwardly,  "after  what  has 
happened^  I'd  rather  not  live  on  British  soil." 

"  Then  why  not  try  Hamburg?  " 

Dick  flushed. 

"  You  might  have  spared  me  that,  sir !  I  lost  the 
plans;  I  didn't  sell  them." 

"Very  well.  This  interview  is  naturally  pamful 
to  us  both  and  we'll  cut  it  short,  but  I  have  some- 
thing to  say.  It  will  not  be  forgotten  that  you  were 
turned  out  of  the  army,  and  if  you  succeeded  me,  the 
!Ugly  story  would  be  whispered  when  you  took  any 
public  post.  I  cannot  have  our  name  tainted  and  will 
therefore  leave  the  house  and  part  of  my  property  to 
your  cousin.     Whether  you  inherit  the  rest  or  not  will 


THE  PUNISHMENT  29 

depend  upon  yourself.  In  the  meantime,  I  am  pre- 
pared to  make  you  an  allowance,  on  the  understanding 
that  you  stay  abroad  until  you  are  sent  for." 

Dick  faced  his  father,  standing  very  straight,  with 
knitted  brows. 

"  Thank  you,  sir,  but  I  will  take  nothing." 

"May  I  ask  why?" 

"  If  you'd  looked  at  the  thing  differently  and  shown 
a  little  kindness,  it  would  have  cut  me  to  the  quick," 
Dick  said  hoarsely.  "  I'm  not  a  thief  and  a  traitor, 
though  I've  been  a  fool,  and  it  hurts  to  know  what 
you  think.  I'm  going  away  to-morrow  and  I'll  get 
on,  somehow,  without  your  help.  I  don't  know  that 
I'll  come  back  if  you  do  send  for  me." 

"  You  don't  seem  to  understand  your  position,  but 
you  may  come  to  realize  it  before  very  long,"  Bran- 
don replied. 

He  got  up  and  Dick  left  the  library ;  but  he  did  not 
sleep  that  night.  It  had  been  hard  to  meet  his  father 
and  what  he  said  had  left  a  wound  that  would  take 
long  to  heal.  Now  he  must  say  good-by  to  Helen. 
This  would  need  courage,  but  Dick  meant  to  see  her. 
It  was  the  girl's  right  that  she  should  hear  his  story, 
and  he  would  not  steal  away  like  a  cur.  He  did  not 
think  Helen  was  really  fond  of  him,  though  he 
imagined  that  she  would  have  acquiesced  in  her  rela- 
tives' plans  for  them  both  had  things  been  different. 
Now,  of  course,  that  was  done  with,  but  he  must  say 
good-by  and  she  might  show  some  regret  or  sympa- 
thy. He  did  not  want  her  to  suffer,  but  he  did  not 
think  she  would  feel  the  parting  much ;  and  she  would 
not  treat  him  as  his  father  had  done. 

When  he  called  the  next  morning  at  an  old  coun- 


30      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

try  house,  he  was  told  that  Miss  Massie  was  in  the 
garden,  and  going  there,  he  stopped  abruptly  at  a  gap 
in  a  shrubbery.  Beyond  the  opening  there  was  a 
stretch  of  smooth  grass,  checkered  by  moving  shadow, 
and  at  one  side  a  row  of  gladioli  glowed  against  the 
paler  bloom  of  yellow  dahlias.  Helen  Massie  held  a 
bunch  of  the  tall  crimson  spikes,  and  Dick  thought 
as  he  watched  her  with  a  beating  heart  that  she  was 
like  the  flowers.  They  were  splendid  in  form  and 
color,  but  there  was  nothing  soft  or  delicate  in  their 
aggressive  beauty.  Helen's  hair  was  dark  and  her 
color  high,  her  black  eyes  were  bright,  and  her  yel- 
low dress  showed  a  finely  outlined  form.  Dick  knew 
that  she  was  proud,  resolute,  and  self-confident. 

Then  she  turned  her  head  and  saw  him,  and  he  knew 
that  she  had  heard  of  his  disgrace,  for  her  color  deep- 
ened and  her  glance  was  rather  hard  than  sympathetic. 
The  hand  that  held  the  flowers  dropped  to  her  side, 
but  she  waited  until  he  came  up. 

f  "  I  see  you  know,  and  it  doesn't  matter  who  told 
you,"  he  said.  "  I  felt  I  had  to  come  before  I  went 
away." 

"  Yes,"  she  answered  calmly,  "  I  heard.  You  have 
courage,  Dick;  but  perhaps  a  note  would  have  been 
enough,  and  more  considerate." 

Dick  wondered  gloomily  whether  she  meant  that 
he  might  have  saved  her  pain  by  staying  away,  or  that 
he  had  involved  her  in  his  disgrace  by  coming,  since 
his  visit  would  be  talked  about.  He  reflected  bitterly 
that  the  latter  was  more  probable. 

"  Well,"  he  said,  "  we  have  been  pretty  good  friends 
and  I'm  leaving  the  country.  I  don't  suppose  I  shall 
jcome  back  again." 


THE  PUNISHMENT  31 

"When  do  you  go?" 

"Now,"  said  Dick.     "I  must  catch  the  train  at 

noon." 

Helen's  manner  did  not  encourage  any  indulgence 
in  sentiment  and  he  half  resented  this,  although  it 
made  things  easier.  He  could  not  say  he  had  come  to 
give  her  up,  because  there  had  been  no  formal  engage- 
ment. Still  he  had  expected  some  sign  of  pity  or 
regret. 

"  You  don't  defend  yourself,"  she  remarked  thought- 
fully.    "  Couldn't  you  have  fought  it  out?  " 

"  There  was  nothing  to  fight  for.  I  lost  the  papers 
I  was  trusted  with ;  one  can't  get  over  that." 

"  But  people  may  imagine  you  did  something 
worse."  She  paused  for  a  moment  and  added: 
"  Don't  you  care  what  I  might  think  ?  " 

Dick  looked  at  her  steadily.  "  You  ought  to  know. 
Do  you  believe  it's  possible  I  stole  and  meant  to  sell 
the  plans?" 

"No,"  she  said  with  a  touch  of  color.  "But  I 
would  have  liked  you,  for  your  friends'  sake,  to  try  to 
clear  yourself.  U  you  had  lost  the  papers,  they  would 
have  been  found  and  sent  back;  as  they  were  not,  it 
looks  as  if  you  had  been  robbed." 

That  she  could  reason  this  out  calmly  struck  Dick 
as  curious,  although  he  had  long  known  that  Helen 
was  ruled  by  her  brain  and  not  her  heart. 

"  I've  been  careless  and  there's  nothing  to  be  done 
but  take  my  punishment." 

She  gave  him  a  keen  glance.  "Are  you  hiding 
something,  Dick?  It's  your  duty  to  tell  all  that  you 
suspect." 

Dick  winced.     Helen  was  right;  it  was  his  duty,  but 


32      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

he  was  not  going  to  carry  it  out.  He  began  to  see 
what  this  meant,  but  his  resolution  did  not  falter. 

"  If  I  knew  I'd  been  robbed,  it  would  be  different, 
but  I  don't,  and  if  I  blamed  people  who  were  found  to 
be  innocent,  I'd  only  make  matters  worse  for  myself." 

"  I  suppose  that's  true,"  she  agreed  coldly.  "  How- 
ever, you  have  made  your  choice  and  it's  too  late  now. 
Where  are  you  going,  Dick  ?  " 

"  To  New  York  by  the  first  boat  from  Liverpool." 

He  waited,  watching  her  and  wondering  whether 
she  would  ask  him  to  stop,  but  she  said  quietly: 
"  Well,  I  shall,  no  doubt,  hear  how  you  get  on." 

"  It's  unlikely,"  he  answered  in  a  hard  voice.  "  I've 
lost  my  friends  with  my  character.  The  best  thing  I 
can  do  is  to  leave  them  alone." 

Then  he  looked  at  his  watch,  and  she  gave  him  her 
hand.     "  For  all  that,  I  wish  you  good  luck,  Dick." 

She  let  him  go,  and  as  he  went  back  to  the  gate  he 
reflected  that  Helen  had  taken  the  proper  and  tactful 
line  by  dismissing  him  as  if  he  were  nothing  more  than 
an  acquaintance.  He  could  be  nothing  more  now,  and 
to  yield  to  sentiment  would  have  been  painful  and 
foolish ;  but  it  hurt  him  that  she  had  realized  this. 

When  he  wheeled  his  bicycle  away  from  the  gate  he 
saw  a  boy  who  helped  his  father's  gardener  running 
along  the  road,  and  waited  until  he  came  up,  hot  and 
panting.     The  boy  held  out  a  small  envelope. 

"  It  came  after  you  left,  Mr.  Dick,"  he  gasped. 

"  Then  you  have  been  very  quick." 

The  lad  smiled,  for  Dick  was  a  favorite  with  his 
facer's  servants. 

"I  thought  you'd  like  to  have  the  note,"  he  an- 


THE  PUNISHMENT  33 

swered,  and  added  awkwardly :  "  Besides,  I  didn't  see 
you  when  you  went." 

It  was  the  first  hint  of  kindness  Dick  had  received 
since  his  disgrace  and  he  took  the  lad's  hand  before 
he  gave  him  half  a  crown,  though  he  knew  that  he  must 
practise  stern  economy. 

"Thank  you  and  good-by,  Jim.  You  must  have 
taken  some  trouble  to  catch  me,"  he  said. 

Then  he  opened  the  envelope  and  his  look  softened. 

"I  heard  of  your  misfortune  and  am  very  sorry, 
but  something  tells  me  that  you  are  not  to  blame,"  the 
note  ran,  and  was  signed  "  Clare  Kenwardine." 

For  a  moment  or  two  Dick  was  sensible  of  keen 
relief  and  satisfaction;  and  then  his  mood  changed. 
This  was  the  girl  who  had  robbed  and  ruined  him ;  she 
must  think  him  a  fool!  Tearing  up  the  note,  he 
mounted  his  bicycle  and  rode  off  to  the  station  in  a 
very  bitter  frame  of  mind. 


CHAPTER  IV 

ADVERSITY 

WHEN  he  had  sold  his  motorcycle  at  Liver- 
pool, Dick  found  it  would  be  prudent  to  take 
a  third-class  passage,  but  regretted  this  as  soon  as  the 
liner  left  the  St.  George's  channel.  The  food,  though 
badly  served,  was  good  of  its  kind,  and  his  berth  was 
comfortable  enough  for  a  man  who  had  lived  under 
canvas,  but  when  the  hatches  were  closed  on  account 
of  bad  weather  the  foul  air  of  the  steerage  sickened 
him  and  the  habits  of  his  companions  left  much  to  be 
desired.  It  was  difficult  to  take  refuge  in  the  open 
air,  because  the  steerage  deck  was  swept  by  bitter  spray 
and  often  flooded  as  the  big  ship  lurched  across  the 
Atlantic  against  a  western  gale. 

A  spray-cloud  veiled  her  forward  when  the  bows 
plunged  into  a  comber's  hollow  side,  and  then  as  they 
swung  up  until  her  forefoot  was  clear,  foam  and  green 
water  poured  aft  in  cataracts.  Sometimes  much  of 
her  hull  before  the  bridge  sank  into  the  crest  of  a  half- 
mile  sea  and  lower  decks  and  alleyways  looked  like 
rivers.  The  gale  held  all  the  way  across,  and  Dick 
felt  jaded  and  gloomy  when  they  steamed  into  New 
York,  a  day  late.  He  had  some  trouble  with  the  immi- 
gration officers,  who  asked  awkward  questions  about 
his  occupation  and  his  reason  for  giving  it  up,  but  he 
satisfied  them  at  length  and  was  allowed  to  land. 

34 


ADVERSITY  35 

The  first  few  days  he  spent  in  New  York  helped 
him  to  realize  the  change  in  his  fortunes  and  the  diffi- 
culties he  must  face.  Until  the  night  he  lost  the  plans, 
he  had  scarcely  known  a  care ;  life  had  been  made  easy, 
and  his  future  had  looked  safe.  He  had  seldom  de- 
nied himself  anything;  he  had  started  well  on  a  career 
he  liked,  and  all  his  thoughts  were  centered  on  fitting 
himself  for  it.  Extravagance  was  not  a  failing  of  his, 
but  he  had  always  had  more  money  than  would  satisfy 
his  somewhat  simple  needs.  Now,  however,  there  was 
an  alarming  difference. 

To  begin  with,  it  was  obvious  that  he  could  only 
stay  for  a  very  limited  time  at  the  cheap  hotel  he  went 
to,  and  his  efforts  to  find  employment  brought  him 
sharp  rebuffs.  Business  men  who  needed  assistance 
asked  him  curt  questions  about  his  training  and  experi- 
ence, and  when  he  could  not  answer  satisfactorily 
promptly  got  rid  of  him.  Then  he  tried  manual  labor 
and  found  employment  almost  as  hard  to  get.  The 
few  dollars  he  earned  at  casual  jobs  did  not  pay  his 
board  at  the  hotel  where  he  lived  in  squalid  discomfort, 
but  matters  got  worse  when  he  was  forced  to  leave  it 
and  take  refuge  in  a  big  tenement  house,  overcrowded 
with  unsavory  foreigners  from  eastern  Europe.  New 
York  was  then  sweltering  under  a  heat  wave,  and  he 
came  home,  tired  by  heavy  toil  or  sickened  by  disap- 
pointment, to  pass  nights  of  torment  in  a  stifling,  foul- 
smelling  room. 

He  bore  it  for  some  weeks  and  then,  when  his  small 
stock  of  money  was  melting  fast,  set  off  to  try  his 
fortune  in  the  manufacturing  towns  of  Pennsylvania 
and  Ohio.  Here  he  found  work  was  to  be  had,  but 
the  best  paid  kind  was  barred  to  untrained  men  by 


36      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

Trade-union  rules,  and  the  rest  was  done  by  Poles  and 
Ruthenians,  who  led  a  squalid  semi-communistic  life  in 
surroundings  that  revolted  him.  Still,  he  could  not 
be  fastidious  and  took  such  work  as  he  could  get,  until 
one  rainy  evening  when  he  walked  home  dejectedly 
after  several  days  of  enforced  idleness.  A  labor 
agent's  window  caught  his  eye  and  he  stopped  amidst 
the  crowd  that  jostled  him  on  the  wet  sidewalk  to  read 
the  notices  displayed. 

One  ticket  stated  that  white  men,  and  particularly 
live  mechanics,  were  wanted  for  a  job  down  South, 
but  Dick  hesitated  for  a  few  minutes,  fingering  a 
dollar  in  his  pocket.  Carefully  spent,  it  would  buy 
him  his  supper  and  leave  something  towards  his  meals 
next  day,  and  he  had  been  walking  about  since  morn- 
ing without  food.  If  he  went  without  his  supper, 
the  agent,  in  exchange  for  the  dollar,  would  give  him 
the  address  of  the  man  who  wanted  help,  but  Dick 
knew  from  experience  that  it  did  not  follow  that  he 
would  be  engaged.  Still,  one  must  risk  something 
and  the  situation  was  getting  desperate.  He  entered 
the  office  and  a  clerk  handed  him  a  card. 

"  It's  right  across  the  town,  but  you'd  better  get 
there  quick,"  he  said.  "The  job's  a  snap  and  I've 
sent  a  lot  of  men  along." 

Dick  boarded  a  street-car  that  took  him  part  of 
the  way,  but  he  had  to  walk  the  rest,  and  was  tired 
and  wet  when  he  reached  an  office  in  a  side  street. 
A  smart  clerk  took  the  card  and  gave  him  a  critical 
glance. 

"  It  looks  as  if  we  were  going  to  be  full  up,  but 
I'll  put  down  your  name  and  you  can  come  back  in 


ADVERSITY  37 

the  morning,"  he  remarked.  "  What  do  you  call  your- 
self?" 

"  A  civil  engineer,"  said  Dick.  "  But  where  is  the 
job  and  what's  the  pay?" 

"  I  guess  Central  America  is  near  enough ;  mighty 
fine  country,  where  rum's  good  and  cheap.  Pay'll 
pan  out  about  two-fifty,  or  perhaps  three  dollars  if 
you're  extra  smart." 

"  You  can  get  as  much  here,"  Dick  objected,  think- 
ing it  unwise  to  seem  eager. 

"Then  why  don't  you  get  it?"  the  clerk  inquired. 
"Anyhow,  you  won't  be  charged  for  board  and  all 
you'll  have  to  do  is  to  drive  breeds  and  niggers.  It's 
a  soft  thing,  sure,  but  you  can  light  out  now  and  come 
back  if  you  feel  it's  good  enough  for  you  to  take  your 
chance." 

Dick  went  away,  and  had  reached  the  landing  when 
a  man  who  wore  loose,  gray  clothes  and  a  big,  soft 
hat,  met  him. 

"  What  do  you  want  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  I've  been  applying  for  the  job  in  the  South." 

The  other  gave  him  a  searching  glance  and  Dick 
thought  he  noted  his  anxious  look  and  wet  and  shabby 
clothes. 

"  What  can  you  do  ?  "  he  resumed. 

"To  begin  with,  I  can  measure  cubic  quantities, 
plan  out  excavating  work,  and  use  the  level.  If  this 
kind  of  thing's  not  wanted,  I  can  handle  a  spade." 

"  Where  have  you  done  your  digging?  " 

"  In  this  city.  Laying  sewers  for  a  contractor,  who, 
the  boys  said,  had  to  squeeze  us  to  make  good  the  graft 
he  put  up  to  get  the  job." 


38      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

The  other  nodded.  "  That's  so ;  I  know  the  man. 
You  can  use  a  spade  all  right  if  you  satisfied  him. 
But  the  sewer's  not  finished  yet ;  why  did  you  quit  ?  " 

"The  foreman  fired  three  or  four  of  us  to  make 
room  for  friends  that  a  saloon-keeper  who  commands 
some  votes  sent  along." 

"  Well,"  said  the  other,  smiling,  "  you  seem  to  un- 
derstand how  our  city  bosses  fix  these  things.  But 
my  job  will  mean  pretty  tough  work.  Are  you  sure 
you  want  it  ?  " 

"  I  can't  find  another,"  Dick  answered  frankly. 

"  Very  well,  I'll  put  you  on.  Look  round  to-mor- 
row and  get  your  orders.  I've  a  notion  that  you're 
up  against  it ;  here's  a  dollar  on  account." 

Dick  took  the  money.  He  rather  liked  the  man, 
whose  abruptness  was  disarmed  by  his  twinkling  smile. 
For  the  first  time,  with  one  exception,  during  his  search 
for  employment,  he  had  been  treated  as  a  human  be- 
ing instead  of  an  instrument  for  doing  a  certain 
amount  of  work. 

It  was  raining  hard  when  he  reached  the  street,  and 
supper  would  be  over  before  he  arrived  at  his  cheap 
hotel,  where  one  must  eat  at  fixed  times  or  wait  for 
the  next  meal.  There  was,  however,  a  small  restau- 
rant with  an  Italian  name  outside  a  few  blocks  further 
on,  and  going  in  he  was  served  with  well-cooked  food 
and  afterwards  sat  in  a  corner  smoking  and  thinking 
hard.  He  now  felt  more  cheerful ;  but  the  future  was 
dark  and  he  realized  the  difficulties  in  his  path. 

American  industry  was  highly  organized.  ^  The  man 
who  hoped  for  advancement  must  specialize  and 
make  himself  master  of  some  particular  branch. 
Dick  had  specialized  in  England,  and  thought  he  knew 


ADVERSITY  39 

his  subject,  but  could  not  use  his  knowledge.  The 
Americans  to  whom  he  tried  to  sell  it  would  have 
none  of  him,  and  Dick  owned  that  he  could  not  blame 
them;  since  it  was  natural  to  suppose  that  the  man 
who  was  unfaithful  to  his  country  would  not  be  loyal 
to  his  employer.  When  he  looked  for  other  open- 
ings, he  found  capital  and  labor  arrayed  in  hostile 
camps.  There  was  mechanical  work  he  was  able  to 
do,  but  this  was  not  allowed,  because  the  organized 
workers,  who  had  fought  stubbornly  for  a  certain 
standard  of  comfort,  refused  to  let  untrained  outsiders 
share  the  benefits  they  had  won. 

Business  was  left;  but  it  needed  money,  and  if  he 
tried  to  enter  it  as  a  clerk,  he  must  first  obtain  smart 
clothes  and  find  somebody  to  certify  his  ability  and 
character,  which  was  impossible.  It  looked  as  if  he 
must  be  content  with  manual  labor.  The  wages  it 
commanded  were  not  low  and  he  was  physically  strong, 
but  he  shrank  from  the  lives  the  lower  ranks  of  toilers 
led  when  their  work  was  done.  The  crowded  bunk- 
house  and  squalid  tenement  revolted  him.  Still,  he 
was  young  and  optimistic ;  his  luck  might  change  when 
he  went  South  and  chance  give  him  an  opportunity 
of  breaking  through  the  barriers  that  shut  him  in.  He 
sat  in  the  corner,  pondering,  until  it  got  late  and  the 
tired  Italian  politely  turned  him  out. 

Next  morning  he  joined  a  group  of  waiting  men  at 
the  railroad  station.  They  had  a  dejected  look  as  they 
sat  upon  their  bundles  outside  the  agent's  office,  ex- 
cept for  three  or  four  who  were  cheerfully  drunk. 
Their  clothes  were  shabby  and  of  different  kinds,  for 
some  wore  cheap  store-suits  and  some  work-stained 
overalls.     It  was  obvious  that  adversity  had  brought 


40      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

them  together,  and  Dick  did  not  think  they  would 
make  amiable  companions.  About  half  appeared  to  be 
Americans,  but  he  could  not  determine  the  nationality 
of  the  rest,  who  grumbled  in  uncouth  English  with 
different  accents. 

By  and  by  the  clerk  whom  Dick  had  met  came  out 
of  the  office  with  a  bundle  of  tickets,  which  he  dis- 
tributed, and  soon  afterwards  the  train  rolled  into 
the  depot.  Dick  was  not  pleased  to  find  that  a  car 
had  been  reserved  for  the  party,  since  he  would  sooner 
have  traveled  with  the  ordinary  passengers.  Indeed, 
when  a  dispute  began  as  the  train  moved  slowly 
through  the  wet  street,  he  left  the  car.  In  passing 
through  the  next,  he  met  the  conductor,  who  asked 
for  his  ticket,  and  after  tearing  off  a  section  of  the 
long  paper,  gave  him  a  card,  which  he  gruffly  ordered 
him  to  stick  in  his  hat.  Then  he  put  his  hand  on 
Dick's  shoulder,  and  pushed  him  back  through  the  vesti- 
bule. 

"  That's  your  car  behind  and  you'll  stop  right  there," 
he  said.  "  Next  time  you  come  out  we'll  put  you  off 
the  train." 

Dick  resigned  himself,  but  stopped  on  the  front 
platform  and  looked  back  as  the  train  jolted  across 
a  rattling  bridge.  A  wide,  yellow  river  ran  beneath 
it,  and  the  tall  factories  and  rows  of  dingy  houses 
were  fading  in  the  rain  and  smoke  on  the  other  side. 
Dick  watched  them  until  they  grew  indistinct,  and 
then  his  heart  felt  lighter.  He  had  endured  much 
in  the  grimy  town;  but  all  that  was  over.  After 
confronting,  with  instinctive  shrinking,  industry's 
grimmest  aspect,  he  was  traveling  toward  the  light 
and  glamour  of  the  South. 


ADVERSITY  41 

Entering  the  smoking  compartment,  he  found  the 
disturbance  had  subsided,  and  presently  fell  into  talk 
with  a  man  on  the  opposite  seat  who  asked  for  some 
tobacco.  He  told  Dick  he  was  a  locomotive  fireman, 
but  had  got  into  trouble,  the  nature  of  which  he  did 
not  disclose.  Dick  never  learned  much  more  about 
his  past  than  this,  but  their  acquaintance  ripened  and 
Kemp  proved  a  useful  friend. 

It  was  getting  dark  when  they  reached  an  Atlantic 
port  and  were  lined  up  on  the  terminal  platform  by 
a  man  who  read  out  a  list  of  their  names.  He  ex- 
pressed his  opinion  of  them  with  sarcastic  vigor  when 
it  was  discovered  that  three  of  the  party  had  left 
the  train  on  the  way;  and  then  packed  the  rest  into 
waiting  automobiles,  which  conveyed  them  to  the 
wharf  as  fast  as  the  machines  would  go. 

"  Guess  }  ou  won't  quit  this  journey.  The  man  who 
jumps  off  will  sure  get  hurt,"  he  remarked  as  they 
started. 

In  spite  of  his  precautions,  another  of  the  gang  was 
missing  when  they  alighted,  and  Kemp,  the  fireman, 
grinned  at  Dick. 

"  That  fellow's  not  so  smart  as  he  allows,"  he  said. 
"  He'd  have  gone  in  the  last  car,  where  he  could  see 
in  front,  if  he'd  known  his  job." 

They  were  hustled  up  a  steamer's  gangway  and  taken 
to  the  after  end  of  the  deck,  where  their  conductor 
turned  his  back  on  them  for  a  few  minutes  while  he 
spoke  to  a  mate. 

"  Now's  your  time,"  said  Kemp,  "  if  you  feel  you 
want  to  quit." 

Dick  looked  about.  The  spar-deck,  on  which  the 
boats  were  stowed,  covered  the  spot  where  he  stood, 


42      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

and  the  passage  beneath  the  stanchions  was  dark. 
There  was  nobody  at  the  top  of  the  gangway  under 
the  big  cargo-lamp,  and  its  illumination  did  not  carry 
far  across  the  wharf.  If  he  could  reach  the  latter, 
he  would  soon  be  lost  in  the  gloom,  and  he  was  sen- 
sible of  a  curious  impulse  that  urged  him  to  flight.  It 
almost  amounted  to  panic,  and  he  imagined  that  the 
other  men's  desertion  must  have  daunted  him.  For 
a  few  moments  he  struggled  with  the  feeling  and  then 
conquered  it. 

"  No,"  he  said  firmly;  "  I'll  see  the  thing  through." 

Kemp  nodded,     "  Well,  I  guess  it's  too  late  now." 

Two  seamen,  sent  by  the  mate,  went  to  the  top 
of  the  gangway,  and  the  fellow  who  had  brought  the 
party  from  the  station  stood  on  guard  near,  Dick 
afterward  realized  that  much  depended  on  the  choice 
he  swiftly  made  and  wondered  whether  it  was  quite 
by  chance  he  did  so, 

"  You  were  pretty  near  going,"  his  companion  re- 
sumed. 

"  Yes,"  said  Dick,  thoughtfully ;  "  I  believe  I  was. 
As  a  matter  of  fact,  I  don't  know  why  I  stopped." 

The  other  smiled.  "  I've  felt  like  that  about  risky 
jobs  I  took.  Sometimes  I  lit  out,  and  sometimes  I 
didn't,  but  found  out  afterward  I  was  right  either 
way.  If  you  feel  you  have  to  go,  the  best  thing  you 
can  do  is  to  get  a  move  on," 

Dick  agreed  with  this.  He  did  not  understand  it, 
but  knew  that  while  he  had  still  had  time  to  escape 
down  the  gangway  and  felt  strongly  tempted  to  do  so, 
it  was  impressed  upon  him  that  he  must  remain. 

A  few  minutes  later  their  conductor  left  them  with 
a  sarcastic  farewell,  the  ropes  were  cast  off,  and  the. 


ADVERSITY  43 

steamer  swung  out  from  the  wharf.  When,  with  en- 
gines throbbing  steadily,  she  headed  down  the  bay, 
Dick  went  to  his  berth,  and  on  getting  up  next  morn- 
ing found  the  American  coast  had  sunk  to  a  low,  gray 
streak  to  starboard.  A  fresh  southwest  breeze  was 
blowing  under  a  cloudy  sky  and  the  vessel,  rolling 
viciously,  lurched  across  the  white-topped  combers  of 
the  warm  Gulf  Stream. 

After  breakfast,  some  of  his  companions  gathered 
into  listless,  grumbling  groups,  and  some  brought  out 
packs  of  greasy  cards,  but  Dick  sat  by  himself,  won- 
dering with  more  buoyant  feelings  what  lay  before 
him.  He  had  known  trouble  and  somehow  weathered 
it,  and  now  he  was  bound  to  a  country  where  the  sun 
was  shining.  It  was  pleasant  to  feel  the  soft  air  on 
his  face  and  the  swing  of  the  spray- veiled  bows.  After 
all,  good  fortune  might  await  him  down  South. 


CHAPTER  V 

THE    CONCRETE   TRUCK 

IT  was  very  hot  in  the  deep  hollow  that  pierced 
the  mountain  range  behind  Santa  Brigida  on  the 
Caribbean  Sea.  The  black  peaks  cut  against  a  glar- 
ing sky  and  the  steep  slopes  of  red  soil  and  volcanic 
cinders  on  one  side  of  the  ravine  were  dazzlingly 
bright.  The  other  was  steeped  in  blue  shadow  that 
scarcely  seemed  to  temper  the  heat,  and  the  dark- 
skinned  men  who  languidly  packed  the  ballast  among 
the  ties  of  a  narrow-gage  railroad  that  wound  up 
the  hill  panted  as  they  swung  their  shovels.  At  its 
lower  end,  the  ravine  opened  on  to  a  valley  that  got 
greener  as  it  ran  down  to  the  glittering  sea,  on  the 
edge  of  which  feathery  palms  clustered  round  Santa 
Brigida. 

The  old  city,  dominated  by  its  twin,  cathedral  tow- 
ers, shone  ethereally  white  in  the  distance,  with  a 
narrow  fringe  of  flashing  surf  between  it  and  the  vivid 
blue  of  the  Caribbean.  It  was  a  thriving  place,  as 
the  black  dots  of  steamers  in  the  roadstead  showed, 
for  of  late  years  American  enterprise  had  broken  m 
upon  its  lethargic  calm.  The  population  was,  for  the 
most  part,  of  Spanish  stock  that  had  been  weakened 
by  infusions  of  Indian  and  negro  blood,  but  there  were 
a  number  of  Chinamen,  and  French  Creoles.     Besides 

44 


THE  CONCRETE  TRUCK  45 

these,  Americans,  Britons,  and  European  adventurers 
had  established  themselves,  and  the  tov^n  was  a  hot- 
bed of  commercial  and  political  intrigue.  The  new- 
comers were  frankly  there  for  what  they  could  get 
and  fought  cunningly  for  trading  and  agricultural  con- 
cessions. The  leading  citizens  of  comparatively  pure 
Spanish  strain  despised  the  grasping  foreigners  in 
their  hearts,  but  as  a  rule  took  their  money  and  helped 
them  in  their  plots.  Moreover,  they  opened  a  hand- 
some casino  and  less  reputable  gambling  houses  with 
the  object  of  collecting  further  toll. 

Such  wealth  as  the  country  enjoyed  was  largely 
derived  from  the  fertile  soil,  but  the  district  about 
Santa  Brigida  was  less  productive  than  the  rest  and 
had  been  long  neglected.  There  was  rain  enough  all 
round,  but  much  of  the  moisture  condensed  on  the  op- 
posite side  of  the  range  and  left  the  slopes  behind  the 
town  comparatively  arid.  To  remedy  this  an  irriga- 
tion scheme  was  being  carried  out  by  American  cap- 
italists, and  the  narrow-gage  railroad  formed  part  of 
the  undertaking. 

A  man  dressed  in  rather  baggy,  gray  clothes  and  a 
big,  soft  hat  sat  in  the  shadow  of  the  rock.  His  thin 
face  had  been  recently  browned  by  the  sun,  for  the 
paler  color  where  his  hat  shaded  it  showed  that  he 
was  used  to  a  northern  climate.  Though  his  pose  was 
relaxed  and  he  had  a  cigar  in  his  mouth,  there  was 
a  hint  of  energy  about  him  and  he  was  following  the 
curves  of  the  railroad  with  keenly  observant  eyes.  A 
girl  in  white  dress  of  fashionable  cut  sat  near  him, 
holding  a  green-lined  sunshade,  for  although  they  were 
in  the  shadow  the  light  was  strong.     The  likeness  be- 


46      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

tween  them  indicated  they  were  father  and  daughter. 

"  I  expect  you're  feeling  it  pretty  hot,"  Fuller  re- 
marked. 

"  It  is  not  oppressive  and  I  rather  like  the  bright- 
ness," the  girl  replied.  "Besides,  it's  cool  enough 
about  the  tent  after  the  sun  goes  behind  the  range. 
Of  course,  you  are  used  to  the  climate." 

"I  was,  but  that  was  twenty-four  years  ago  and 
before  you  were  born.  Got  my  first  lift  with  the  ten 
thousand  dollars  I  made  in  the  next  state  down  this 
coast,  besides  the  ague  and  shivers  that  have  never 
quite  left  me.  However,  it's  pretty  healthy  up  here, 
and  I  guess  it  ought  to  suit  Jake  all  right." 

Ida  Fuller  looked  thoughtful,  and  her  pensive  ex- 
pression added  to  the  charm  of  her  attractive  face. 
She  had  her  father's  keen  eyes,  but  they  were,  like  her 
hair,  a  soft  dark-brown;  and  the  molding  of  brows 
and  nose  and  mouth  was  rather  firm  than  delicate. 
While  her  features  hinted  at  decision  of  character, 
there  was  nothing  aggressive  in  her  look,  which,  in- 
deed, was  marked  by  a  gracious  calm.  Though  she 
was  tall,  her  figure  was  slender. 

"  Yes,"  she  agreed,  "  if  he  would  stay  up  here!  " 

Fuller  nodded.  "  I'd  have  to  fix  him  up  with  work 
enough  to  keep  him  busy,  and  ask  for  a  full-length  re- 
port once  a  week.  That  would  show  me  what  he  was 
doing  and  he'd  have  to  stick  right  to  his  job  to  find 
out  what  was  going  on." 

"Unless  he  got  somebody  to  tell  him,  or  perhaps 
write  the  report.     Jake,  you  know,  is  smart." 

"You're  fond  of  your  brother,  but  I  sometimes 
think  you're  a  bit  hard  on  him.  I  admit  I  was  badly 
riled  when  they  turned  him  down  from  Yale,  but  it 


THE  CONCRETE  TRUCK  47 

was  a  harmless  fool-trick  he  played,  and  when  he 
owned  up  squarely  I  had  to  let  it  go." 

"  That's  Jake's  way.  You  can't  be  angry  with  him. 
Still,  perhaps,  it's  a  dangerous  gift.  It  might  be  bet- 
ter for  him  if  he  got  hurt  now  and  then." 

Fuller,  who  did  not  answer,  watched  her,  as  she 
pondered.  Her  mother  had  died  long  ago,  and  Fuller, 
who  was  largely  occupied  by  his  business,  knew  that 
Jake  might  have  got  into  worse  trouble  but  for  the 
care  Ida  had  exercised.  He  admitted  that  his  daugh- 
ter, rather  than  himself,  had  brought  up  the  lad,  and 
her  influence  had  been  wholly  for  good.  By  and  by 
she  glanced  at  Santa  Brigida. 

"It's  the  casino  and  other  attractions  down  there 
I'm  afraid  of.  If  you  had  some  older  man  you  could 
trust  to  look  after  Jake,  one  would  feel  more  satis- 
fied." 

"  Well,"  said  Fuller  with  a  twinkle,  "  there's  nobody 
I  know  who  could  fill  the  bill,  and  I'm  not  sure  the 
older  men  are  much  steadier  than  the  rest." 

He  stopped  as  a  puff  of  smoke  rose  at  the  lower 
end  of  the  ravine  and  moved  up  the  hill.  Then  a  flash 
of  twinkling  metal  broke  out  among  the  rocks,  and 
Ida  saw  that  a  small  locomotive  was  climbing  the  steep 
track. 

"  She's  bringing  up  concrete  blocks  for  the  dam,'* 
Fuller  resumed.  "We  use  them  large  in  the  lower 
courses,  and  I  had  the  bogie  car  they're  loaded  on 
specially  built  for  the  job;  but  I'm  afraid  we'll  have 
to  put  down  some  pieces  of  the  line  again.  The 
grade's  pretty  stiff  and  the  curves  are  sharp." 

Ida  was  not  bored  by  these  details.  She  liked  her 
father  to  talk  to  her  about  his  business,  and  her  interest 


48      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

was  quickly  roused.  Fuller,  who  was  proud  of  her 
keen  intelligence,  told  her  much,  and  she  knew  the  im- 
portance of  the  irrigation  scheme  he  had  embarked 
upon.  Land  in  the  arid  belt  could  be  obtained  on 
favorable  terms  and.  Fuller  thought,  be  made  as  pro- 
ductive as  that  watered  by  the  natural  rainfall.  It 
was,  however,  mainly  because  he  had  talked  about  find- 
ing her  scapegrace  brother  employment  on  the  work 
that  Ida  had  made  him  take  her  South. 

As  she  glanced  at  the  track  she  noted  that  room  for 
it  had  been  dug  out  of  the  hillside,  which  was  seamed 
by  gullies  that  the  rails  twisted  round.  The  loose  soil, 
consisting  largely  of  volcanic  cinders,  appeared  to  of- 
fer a  very  unsafe  support.  It  had  slipped  away  here 
and  there,  leaving  gaps  between  the  ties,  which  were 
unevenly  laid  and  at  the  sharper  bends  overhung  the 
steep  slope  below.  In  the  meantime,  the  small  loco- 
motive came  nearer,  panting  loudly  and  throwing  up 
showers  of  sparks,  and  Ida  remarked  how  the  rails 
bent  and  then  sprang  up  again  as  the  truck,  which  car- 
ried two  ponderous  blocks  of  stone,  rolled  over  them. 
The  engine  rocked,  sparks  flashed  among  the  wheels 
as  their  flanges  bit  the  curves,  and  she  wondered  what 
the  driver  felt  or  if  he  had  got  used  to  his  rather  dan- 
gerous work. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  Dick  Brandon,  who  drove  the 
engine,  felt  some  nervous  strain.  He  had  applied  for 
the  post  at  Kemp's  suggestion,  after  the  latter  had 
given  him  a  few  lessons  in  locomotive  work,  and  had 
since  been  sorry  that  he  had  obtained  it.  Still  he  had 
now  a  room  to  himself  at  the  shed  where  the  engine 
was  kept,  and  a  half-breed  fireman  to  help  him  with 
the  heavier  part  of  his  task.     He  preferred  this  to 


THE  CONCRETE  TRUCK  49 

living  in  a  hot  bunk-house  and  carrying  bags  of  ce- 
ment in  the  grinding  mill,  though  he  knew  there  was 
a  certain  risk  of  his  plunging  down  the  ravine  with  his 
engine. 

The  boiler  primed  when  he  started  and  was  not 
steaming  well.  The  pistons  banged  alarmingly  as  they 
compressed  the  water  that  spurted  from  the  drain- 
cocks,  and  his  progress  was  marked  by  violent  jerks 
that  jarred  the  couplings  of  the  bogie  truck.  Though 
Dick  only  wore  a  greasy  shirt  and  overall  trousers, 
he  felt  the  oppressive  heat,  and  his  eyes  ached  with 
the  glare  as  he  gazed  up  the  climbing  track.  The  dust 
that  rolled  about  the  engine  dimmed  the  glasses,  the 
footplate  rattled,  and  it  looked  as  if  his  fireman  was 
performing  a  clumsy  dance. 

By  and  by  he  rather  doubtfully  opened  the  throttle 
to  its  widest.  If  the  boiler  primed  again,  he  might 
knock  out  the  cylinder-heads,  but  there  was  a  steep 
pitch  in  front  that  was  difficult  to  climb.  The  short 
locomotive  rocked  and  hammered,  the  wheels  skidded 
and  gripped  again,  and  Dick  took  his  hand  from  the 
lever  to  dash  the  sweat  from  his  eyes. 

They  were  going  up,  and  he  would  be  past  the 
worst  if  he  could  get  his  load  round  the  curve  ahead. 
They  were  half  way  round  when  there  was  a  clang 
behind  him  and  the  engine  seemed  to  leap  forward. 
Glancing  over  his  shoulder  as  he  shut  off  steam,  Dick 
saw  the  fireman  gazing  back,  and  a  wide  gap  between 
the  concrete  blocks  and  his  load  of  coal.  The  coup- 
lings had  snapped  as  they  strained  round  the  bend  and 
the  truck  would  run  down  the  incline  until  it  smashed 
through  the  sheds  that  held  the  grinding  and  mixing 
plant  at  the  bottom.     He  saw  that  prompt  action  was 


so      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

needed,  and  reversing  the  machinery,  gave  the  fireman 
an  order  in  uncouth  CastiHan. 

The  fellow  looked  at  him  stupidly,  as  if  his  nerve 
had  failed,  or  he  thought  the  order  too  risky  to  obey. 
There  was  only  one  thing  to  be  done,  and  since  it  must 
be  done  at  once,  Dick  must  undertake  it  himself. 
The  engine  was  now  running  down  the  line  after  the 
truck,  which  had  not  gathered  much  speed  yet,  and  he 
climbed  across  the  coal  and  dropped  upon  the  rear 
buffer-frame.  Balancing  himself  upon  it,  he  waited 
until  the  gap  between  him  and  the  truck  got  narrower, 
and  then  put  his  hand  on  top  of  the  concrete  and 
swung  himself  across.  He  got  his  foot  upon  the  side 
of  the  car  and  made  his  way  along,  holding  the  top  of 
the  block,  while  the  dust  rolled  about  him  and  he 
thought  he  would  be  jolted  off.  Indeed,  there  was 
only  an  inch-wide  ledge  of  smooth  iron  to  support  his 
foot,  which  slipped  once  or  twice;  but  he  reached  the 
brake-gear  and  screwed  it  down.  Then,  crawling 
back,  he  hooked  on  the  spare  coupling  and  returned, 
breathless  and  shaky,  to  his  engine.  A  minute  or  two 
later  he  brought  it  to  a  stop  and  had  got  down  upon 
the  line  when  somebody  called  him. 

Looking  round,  he  saw  Fuller  standing  near,  and 
knew  him  as  the  man  who  had  given  him  the  dollar 
in  the  American  town.  He  had  heard  that  his  em- 
ployer had  come  out  to  see  what  progress  was  being 
made,  but  had  not  yet  encountered  him.  He  did  not 
notice  Ida,  who  was  sitting  in  the  shadow  of  the  rock. 

"You  were  smart,"  said  Fuller.  "  There'd  have 
been  an  ugly  smash  if  the  blocks  had  got  away  down 
the  grade.  But  why  didn't  you  stick  to  the  throttle 
and  send  your  fireman  ?  " 


THE  CONCRETE  TRUCK  51 

"  I  don't  think  he  understood  what  he  ought  to  do, 
and  there  was  no  time  to  explain." 

Fuller  nodded.  "So  you  did  it  yourself!  But 
why  didn't  you  push  the  car?  You  could  have  held 
her  up  better  then." 

"  I  couldn't  get  behind  it.  The  loop-track  down  at 
the  switches  has  caved  in." 

"  I  see.  But  it's  a  stiff  grade  and  you  didn't  seem 
to  be  hustling  your  engine  much." 

"The  boiler  was  priming  and  I  was  afraid  of  the 
cylinders." 

"  Just  so.     You  pumped  up  the  water  pretty  high?  " 

"  No ;  it  was  at  the  usual  working  level,"  said  Dick, 
who  paused  and  resumed  thoughtfully :  "  I  can't  ac- 
count for  the  thing.     Why  does  a  boiler  prime  ?  " 

There  are  one  or  two  obvious  reasons  for  a  boiler's 
priming;  that  is  to  say,  throwing  water  as  well  as 
steam  into  the  engine,  but  this  sometimes  happens 
when  no  cause  can  be  assigned,  and  Fuller  saw  that 
Dick  did  not  expect  an  answer  to  his  question.  It 
was  rather  an  exclamation,  prompted  by  his  failure 
to  solve  a  fascinating  problem,  and  as  such  indicated 
that  his  interest  in  his  task  was  not  confined  to  the 
earning  of  a  living.  Fuller  recognized  the  mind  of 
the  engineer. 

"  Well,"  he  replied,  "  there's  a  good  deal  we  don't 
know  yet  about  the  action  of  fluids  under  pressure. 
But  do  you  find  the  grade  awkward  when  she's  steam- 
ing properly?" 

"  I  can  get  up.  Still,  I  think  it  will  soon  cost  you 
as  much  in  extra  fuel  as  it  would  to  relay  this  bit  of 
line.  Two  hundred  cubic  yards  cut  out  at  the  bend 
would  make  things  much  easier." 


52      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

"  Two  hundred  yards  ?  "  said  Fuller,  studying  the 
spot. 

"  Two  hundred  and  fifty  at  the  outside,"  Dick  an- 
swered confidently,  and  then  felt  embarrassed  as  he  saw 
Miss  Fuller  for  the  first  time.  His  clothes  were  few 
and  dirty  and  he  was  awkwardly  conscious  that  his 
hands  and  face  were  black.  But  his  employer  claimed 
his  attention. 

"  What  would  you  reckon  the  weight  of  the  stuff?  " 

Dick  told  him  after  a  short  silence,  and  Fuller 
asked :     "  Two-thousand-pound  tons?  " 

"  Yes ;  I  turned  it  into  American  weight." 

"  Well,"  said  Fuller,  "  you  must  get  on  with  your 
job  now,  but  come  up  to  my  tent  after  supper." 

Dick  started  his  locomotive,  and  when  it  panted 
away  up  the  incline  Fuller  looked  at  his  daughter  with 
a  smile. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  that  young  man  ?  " 

"  He  has  a  nice  face.  Of  course  he's  not  the  type 
one  would  expect  to  find  driving  a  locomotive." 

"  Pshaw !  "  said  Fuller.  "  I'm  not  talking  about  his 
looks." 

"  Nor  am  I,  in  the  way  you  mean,"  Ida  rejoined. 
"  I  thought  he  looked  honest,  though  perhaps  reliable 
is  nearest  what  I  felt.  Then  he  was  very  profes- 
sional." 

Fuller  nodded.  "That's  what  I  like.  The  man 
who  puts  his  job  before  what  he  gets  for  it  naturally 
makes  the  best  work.  What  do  you  think  of  his  man- 
ner?" 

"  It  was  good ;  confident,  but  not  assertive,  with 
just  the  right  note  of  deference,"  Ida  answered,  and 


THE  CONCRETE  TRUCK  53 

then  laughed.     "It  rather  broke  down  after  he  saw 


me. 


"That's  not  surprising,  anyhow.  I  expect  he's 
used  to  wearing  different  clothes  and  more  of  them 
when  he  meets  stylish  young  women.  It  doesn't  fol- 
low that  the  young  fellow  isn't  human  because  he's 
professional.  However,  I  want  to  see  what  the  boys 
are  doing  farther  on." 


CHAPTER  VI 

A  STEP   UP 

DUSK  was  falling  when  Dick  went  to  keep  his 
appointment  with  his  employer.  Fireflies  glim- 
mered in  the  brush  beside  the  path,  and  the  lights  of 
Santa  Brigida  flashed  in  a  brilliant  cluster  on  the  edge 
of  the  shadowy  sea.  High  above,  rugged  peaks  cut 
black  against  the  sky,  and  the  land  breeze  that  swept 
their  lower  slopes  brought  with  it  instead  of  cool- 
ness a  warm,  spicy  smell.  There  was  more  foliage 
when  Dick  reached  the  foot  of  a  projecting  spur,  for 
a  dark  belt  of  forest  rolled  down  the  hill ;  and  by  and 
by  he  saw  a  big  tent,  that  gleamed  with  a  softened 
radiance  like  a  paper  lantern,  among  a  clump  of  palms. 
It  seemed  to  be  well  lighted  inside,  and  Dick  remem- 
bered having  heard  orders  for  electric  wires  to  be  con- 
nected with  the  power-house  at  the  dam. 

Fuller  obviously  meant  to  give  his  daughter  all  the 
civilized  comfort  possible,  and  Dick  was  glad  he  had 
been  able  to^find  a  clean  duck  suit,  though  he  was  not 
sure  he  had  succeeded  in  removing  all  the  oily  grime 
from  his  face.  Nothing  could  be  done  with  his  hands. 
The  knuckles  were  scarred,  the  nails  broken,  and  the 
black  grease  from  the  engine  had  worked  into  his 
skin.  Still,  this  did  not  matter  much,  because  he  had 
gradually  overcome  his  fastidiousness  and  it  was  not 
likely  that  Miss  Fuller  would  notice  him. 

54 


A  STEP  UP  5S 

She  was,  however,  sitting  outside  the  tent,  from 
which  an  awning  extended  so  as  to  convert  its  front 
into  a  covered  veranda,  and  Dick  was  half  surprised 
when  she  gave  him  a  smile  of  recognition  that  war- 
ranted his  taking  off  his  hat.  Then  Fuller,  beckoning 
him  to  come  forward,  switched  on  another  lamp  and 
the  light  fell  on  a  table  covered  with  plans.  Dick 
stopped  when  he  reached  it  and  waited,  not  knowing 
how  his  employer  meant  to  receive  him. 

"Sit  down,"  said  Fuller,  indicating  a  chair,  and 
then  gave  him  one  of  the  plans,  some  paper,  and  a 
fountain  pen.  "  Study  that  piece  of  digging  and  let 
me  know  the  weight  of  stuff  to  be  moved,  the  number 
of  men  you'd  use,  and  what  you  think  the  job  would 
cost." 

Dick  set  to  work,  and  at  once  became  absorbed. 
Twenty  minutes  passed  and  he  did  not  move  or  speak, 
nor  did  he  see  the  smile  with  which  Ida  answered 
Fuller's  look.  In  another  ten  minutes  he  put  down 
the  pen  and  gave  Fuller  his  calculations. 

"  I  think  that's  near  it,  sir.  I'm  reckoning  on  the 
use  of  colored  peons." 

Fuller  nodded.  "You  haven't  left  much  margin 
for  what  we  call  contingencies.  But  they're  going  to 
bring  us  some  coffee.     Will  you  take  a  cigar  ?  " 

A  Chinaman  brought  out  a  silver  coffee-pot  on  a 
tray,  which  he  placed  on  a  folding  table  in  front  of 
Ida,  and  since  it  was  two  or  three  yards  from  the 
other,  Dick  got  up  when  she  filled  the  cups.  She  gave 
him  two,  which  he  carried  back,  but  remained  where 
she  was,  within  hearing  but  far  enough  away  not  to 
obtrude  her  society  upon  the  others.  Dick,  who 
lighted  his  cigar,  felt  grateful  to  Fuller.     It  was  some 


56      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

time  since  he  had  met  people  of  any  refinement  on 
friendly  terms,  and  until  he  took  up  his  quarters  in 
the  locomotive  shed  had  been  living  in  squalor  and 
dirt. 

There  v^as  not  much  furniture  outside  the  tent,  but 
the  neat  folding  tables,  comfortable  canvas  chairs,  deli- 
cate china,  and  silver  coffee-pot  gave  the  place  a  luxuri- 
ous look,  and  though  Miss  Fuller  was,  so  to  speak, 
outside  the  circle,  the  presence  of  a  well-dressed,  at- 
tractive girl  had  its  charm.  Indeed,  Dick  felt  half 
embarrassed  by  the  pleasantness  of  his  surroundings. 
They  were  unusual  and  reminded  him  poignantly  of 
the  privileges  he  had  enjoyed  in  England. 

"  Where  did  you  learn  to  make  these  calculations?  " 
Fuller  asked  after  a  time. 

"  In  the  British  Army,  Royal  Engineers,"  Dick  an- 
swered with  a  flush. 

"  Were  you  an  officer?  " 

Dick  had  dreaded  the  question.  It  looked  as  if 
truthfulness  would  cost  him  much;  but  he  determined 
that  his  new  friends  should  know  the  worst. 

"  Yes." 

"  Then  why  did  you  quit?  " 

Dick  glanced  at  Ida,  and  imagined  that  she  was 
interested,  though  she  did  not  look  up. 

"  I  was  turned  out,  sir." 

"  Ah !  "  said  Fuller,  without  surprise.  "  May  I  ask 
why?     It's  not  impertinent  curiosity." 

"  I  was  sent  with  some  important  papers,  which  I 
lost.  This  was  bad  enough,  but  there  was  some 
ground  for  suspecting  that  I  had  stolen  them." 

"  Do  you  know  how  they  were  lost  ?  " 

Dick  was  grateful  for  the  way  the  question  was 


A  STEP  UP  57 

put,  since  it  hinted  that  Fuller  did  not  doubt  his  hon- 

esty. 

"  No,"  he  said.     "  That  is,  I  have  a  notion,  but  I'ni 

afraid  I'll  never  quite  find  out." 

Fuller  did  not  reply  for  a  minute  or  two,  and  Dick, 
whose  face  was  rather  hot,  glanced  back  at  Ida.  Her 
eyes  were  now  fixed  on  him  with  quiet  interest,  and 
something  in  her  expression  indicated  approval. 

"Well,"  said  Fuller,  "I'm  going  to  give  you  a 
chance  of  making  good,  because  if  you  had  done  any- 
thing crooked,  you  wouldn't  have  told  me  that  tale. 
You'll  quit  driving  the  locomotive  and  superintend  on 
a  section  of  the  dam.  I'm  not  satisfied  with  the  fel- 
low who's  now  in  charge.  He's  friendly  with  the 
dago  sub-contractors  and  I  suspect  I'm  being  robbed. 

Dick's  eyes  sparkled.  His  foot  was  on  the  ladder 
that  led  to  success ;  and  he  did  not  mean  to  stay  at 
the  bottom.  Moreover,  it  caused  him  an  exhilarating 
thrill  to  feel  that  he  was  trusted  again. 

"  I'll  do  my  best,  sir,"  he  said  gratefully. 

"Very  well;  you'll  begin  to-morrow,  and  can  use 
the  rooms  behind  the  iron  office  shack.  But  there's 
something  you  have  forgotten." 

Dick  looked  at  him  with  a  puzzled  air;  and  Fuller 

laughed. 

"You  haven't  asked  what  I'm  going  to  pay  you 

yet." 

"  No,"  said  Dick.  "  To  tell  the  truth,  it  didn  t  seem 
to  matter." 

"Profession  comes  first?"  Fuller  suggested. 
"  Well,  that's  right,  but  I've  hired  professional  men, 
engineering  and  medical  experts,  who  charged  pretty 
high.     Anyhow,  here's  my  offer — " 


58      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

Dick  was  satisfied,  as  was  Fuller.  The  latter  was 
often  generous  and  would  not  have  taken  unfair  ad- 
vantage of  Dick's  necessity,  but  he  did  not  object  to 
engaging  a  talented  young  man  at  something  below 
the  market  rate. 

"  While  I'm  here  you'll  come  over  twice  a  week  to 
report,"  he  resumed.  "  And  now  if  there's  anything 
you'd  like  to  ask." 

"  First  of  all,  I  owe  you  a  dollar,"  Dick  remarked, 
putting  the  money  on  the  table.  "  The  pay-clerk 
wouldn't  take  it,  because  he  said  it  would  mix  up  his 
accounts.  I'm  glad  to  pay  you  back,  but  this  doesn't 
cancel  the  debt." 

"  It  wasn't  a  big  risk.  I  thought  you  looked  played 
out." 

"  I  was  played  out  and  hungry.  In  fact,  it  took  me 
five  minutes  to  make  up  my  mind  whether  I'd  pay  the 
agent  who  gave  me  your  address  his  fee,  because  it 
meant  going  without  a  meal." 

Fuller  nodded.  "  Did  you  hesitate  again,  after  you 
knew  you'd  got  the  job?  " 

"  I  did.  When  we  were  hustled  on  board  the 
steamer,  there  was  nobody  at  the  gangway  for  a  few 
moments  and  I  felt  I  wanted  to  run  away.  There 
didn't  seem  to  be  any  reason  for  this,  but  I  very  nearly 
went." 

"  That  kind  of  thing's  not  quite  unusual,"  Fuller 
answered  with  a  smile.  "  In  my  early  days,  when 
every  dollar  was  of  consequence,  I  often  had  a  bad 
time  after  I'd  made  a  risky  deal.  Used  to  think  I'd 
been  a  fool,  and  I'd  be  glad  to  pay  a  smart  fine  if  the 
other  party  would  let  me  out.  Yet  if  he'd  made  the 
proposition,  I  wouldn't  have  clinched  with  it." 


A  STEP  UP  59 

"  Such  vacillation  doesn't  seem  logical,  in  a  man," 
Ida  interposed.  "  Don't  you  practical  people  rather 
pride  yourselves  on  being  free  from  our  complexities  ? 
Still  I  suppose  there  is  an  explanation." 

"  I'm  not  a  philosopher,"  Fuller  replied.  "  If  you 
have  the  constructive  faculty,  it's  your  business  to 
make  things  and  not  examine  your  feelings;  but  my 
explanation's  something  like  this  —  When  you  take  a 
big  risk  you  have  a  kind  of  unconscious  judgment 
that  tells  you  if  you're  right,  but  human  nature's 
weak,  and  scares  you  really  don't  believe  in  begin 
to  grip.  Then  it  depends  on  your  nerve  whether  you 
make  good  or  not." 

"Don't  they  call  it  sub-conscious?"  Ida  asked. 
"  And  how  does  that  judgment  come?  " 

"  I  guess  it's  built  up  on  past  experience,  on  things 
you've  learned  long  since  and  stored  away.  In  a 
sense,  they're  done  with,  you  don't  call  them  up 
and  argue  from  them;  but  all  the  same,  they're  the 
driving  force  when  you  set  your  teeth  and  go 
ahead." 

Ida  looked  at  Dick.  "  That  can't  apply  to  us,  who 
have  no  long  experience  to  fall  back  upon." 

"  I've  only  made  one  venture  of  the  kind,  but  I've 
just  discovered  that  it  turned  out  right," 

Fuller  smiled.  "  That's  neat."  Then  he  turned 
to  Ida.  "  But  I  wasn't  talking  about  women.  They 
don't  need  experience." 

"  Sometimes  you're  merely  smart,  and  sometimes 
you're  rather  deep,  but  I  can't  decide  which  you  are 
just  now,"  Ida  rejoined.  "  However,  I  expect  you're 
longing  to  get  back  to  the  plans." 

"  No,"  said  Fuller.     "  They  have  to  be  thought  of. 


6o      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

but  life  isn't  all  a  matter  of  building  dams.  Now  I'm 
getting  old,  I've  found  that  out." 

"And  you?  Have  you  any  opinion  on  the  sub- 
ject?" Ida  asked  Dick. 

Dick  hesitated,  w^ondering  whether  she  meant  to 
put  him  at  his  ease  or  was  amused  by  his  seriousness. 

"  I  don't  imagine  my  views  are  worth  much  and 
they're  not  very  clear.  In  a  way,  of  course,  it's  plain 
that  Mr,  Fuller's  right—" 

"  But  after  all,  building  dams  and  removing  rocks 
may  very  well  come  first  ?  " 

Dick  pondered  this.  So  far,  his  profession  had 
certainly  come  first.  He  was  not  a  prig  or  a  recluse, 
but  he  found  engineering  more  interesting  than  peo- 
ple. Now  he  came  to  think  of  it,  he  had  been  proud 
of  Helen's  beauty,  but  she  had  not  stirred  him  much 
or  occupied  all  his  thoughts.  Indeed,  he  had  only 
once  been  overwhelmingly  conscious  of  a  woman's 
charm,  and  that  was  in  Kenwardine's  garden.  He 
had  lost  his  senses  then,  but  did  not  mean  to  let  any- 
thing of  the  kind  happen  again. 

"  Well,"  he  said  diffidently,  "  so  long  as  you're  con- 
tent with  your  occupation,  it  doesn't  seem  necessary 
to  make  experiments  and  look  for  adventures.  I  ex- 
pect it  saves  you  trouble  to  stick  to  what  you  like  and 
know." 

He  noted  Ida's  smile,  and  was  silent  afterwards 
while  she  argued  with  her  father.  He  did  not  want 
to  obtrude  himself,  and  since  they  seemed  to  expect 
him  to  stay,  it  was  pleasant  enough  to  sit  and  listen. 

The  air  was  getting  cooler  and  the  moon  had  risen 
and  cast  a  silver  track  across  the  sea.  The  distant 
rumble  of  the  surf  came  up  the  hillside  in  a  faint. 


A  STEP  UF  61 

rhythmic  beat,  and  the  peaks  above  the  camp  had 
grown  in  distinctness.  A  smell  of  spice  drifted  out 
of  the  jungle,  and  Dick,  who  was  tired,  was  sensible 
of  a  delightful  languor.  The  future  had  suddenly 
grown  bright  and  besides  this,  Ida's  gracious  friendli- 
ness had  given  him  back  his  confidence  and  self-re- 
spect. He  was  no  longer  an  outcast ;  he  had  his  chance 
of  making  good  and  regaining  the  amenities  of  life 
that  he  had  learned  to  value  by  their  loss.  He  was 
very  grateful  to  the  girl  and  Fuller,  but  at  length  took 
his  leave  and  returned  to  the  locomotive  shed  with  a 
light  heart  and  a  springy  step. 

Next  morning  he  began  his  new  work  with  keen 
energy.  It  absorbed  him,  and  as  the  dam  slowly  rose 
in  a  symmetrical  curve  of  molded  stone,  its  austere 
beauty  commanded  his  attention.  Hitherto  he  had 
given  utility  the  leading  place,  but  a  change  had  begun 
the  night  he  sat  beneath  the  copper-beech  with  Clare 
Kenwardine.  The  design  of  the  structure  was  good, 
but  Dick  determined  that  the  work  should  be  better, 
and  sometimes  stopped  in  the  midst  of  his  eager  ac- 
tivity to  note  the  fine,  sweeping  lines  and  silvery-gray 
luster  of  the  concrete  blocks.  There  were  soft  lights 
at  dawn  and  when  the  sun  sank  in  which  the  long  em- 
bankment glimmered  as  if  carved  in  mother-of-pearl. 
In  the  meantime,  he  went  to  Fuller's  tent  twice  a 
week  and  generally  met  Ida  there.  Once  or  twice,  he 
pleaded  with  his  employer  for  extra  labor  and  cement 
to  add  some  grace  of  outline  to  the  dam,  and,  although 
this  was  unproductive  expenditure,  Fuller  agreed. 

"  I  like  a  good  job,  but  it's  going  to  cost  high  if 
you  mean  to  turn  out  a  work  of  art,"  he  said.  "  How- 
ever, if  Bethune  thinks  the  notion  all  right,  I  suppose 
I'll  have  to  consent." 


62      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

Dick  colored,  and  wondered  whether  he  had  been 
given  a  hint,  for  Bethune  was  his  superior  and  a  man 
of  abihty. 

"  He  doesn't  object,  sir." 

"  That's  good,"  Fuller  replied  with  a  twinkle. 
"  Still,  if  you  hustle  him  too  much,  you'll  make  him 
tired." 

Dick  did  not  smile,  because  he  did  not  know  how 
far  it  was  wise  to  go,  but  he  suspected  that  Bethune 
had  been  tired  before  he  came  to  the  dam.  The  latter 
was  generally  marked  by  an  air  of  languid  indifference, 
and  while  his  work  was  well  done  he  seldom  exceeded 
his  duty. 

Next  evening  Dick  went  to  see  Bethune  and  found 
him  lying  in  a  hammock  hung  between  the  posts  of 
the  veranda  of  his  galvanized  iron  hut.  A  syphon 
and  a  tall  glass  filled  with  wine  in  which  a  lump  of  ice 
floated,  stood  on  a  table  within  his  reach,  and  an  open 
book  lay  upside  down  upon  the  floor.  He  wore  white 
duck  trousers,  a  green  shirt  of  fine  material,  and  a 
red  sash  very  neatly  wound  round  his  waist.  His  face 
was  sunburned,  but  the  features  were  delicately  cut 
and  his  hands,  which  hung  over  the  edge  of  the  ham- 
mock, were  well  cared  for. 

"  Mix  yourself  a  drink,"  he  said  to  Dick.  "  There's 
a  glass  and  some  ice  in  the  bureau  inside.  Anyhow 
my  steward  boy  put  some  there." 

Dick,  who  went  into  the  hut,  came  back  with  a  grin. 
"  There's  a  bit  of  wet  blanket,  but  the  ice  has  gone. 
It  seems  to  have  run  into  your  papers." 

"  They'll  dry,"  Bethune  said  tranquilly.  "  You  had 
better  put  some  of  the  gaseosa  in  the  wine;  it's  sour 
Spanish  tinto.  Then  if  you  like  to  pick  up  the  book, 
I'll  read  you  some  Frangois  Villon.     There  was  red 


A  STEP  UP  63 

blood  in  that  fellow  and  it's  a  pity  he's  dead.  You  get 
into  touch  with  him  better  beside  the  Spanish  Mam 
than  you  can  in  New  York." 

"  I  never  heard  of  him,  and  perhaps  I  ought  to  ex- 
plain   " 

"What  you  came  for?  Then  go  ahead  and  ease 
your  mind.     It's  business  first  with  you." 

"  It  occurred  to  me  that  I  had  perhaps  taken  too 
much  upon  myself  now  and  then.  You  are  my  chief, 
of  course,  and  I  don't  want  to  look  pushing." 

"That  shows  good  taste,"  Bethune  remarked. 
"  But  how  are  you  going  to  get  over  the  difficulty  that 
you  are  what  you  call  pushing?  Anyhow,  I'm  sur- 
prised it  did  occur  tayou." 

"To    tell    the    truth,    it    was    somethmg    Fuller 

said "  ,„ 

"So  I  imagined!  Well,  when  you  go  too  tar  ill 
pull  you  up,  but  we  needn't  bother  about  it  in  the 
meantime.  You  were  obviously  born  a  hustler,  but 
you  have  an  ingenuousness  that  disarms  resentment. 
In  fact,  you  quite  upset  our  views  of  the  British  char- 

acter. 

"  Then  the  feeling's  mutual,"  Dick  rejoined  with  a 
grin.     "  You  don't  harmonize  with  what  I've  seen  of 

Americans." 

"  Ours  is  a  big  country  and  we've  room  for  ditterent 
types-  but  I  come  from  Georgia  and  we  haven't  all 
learned  to  hustle  yet  in  the  South.  That's  probably 
why  I'm  here,  when  I  could  have  had  a  much  better 

paid  job." 

Dick  did  not  doubt  this,  because  he  had  seen  some- 
thing of  the  other's  mathematical  powers.  He  was 
not  a  fool  at  figures  himself,  but  Bethune  could  solve 
by  a  flash  of  genius  problems  that  cost  him  laborious 


64      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

calculation.     It  was  strange  that  such  a  man  should 
be  content  to  make  a  very  modest  use  of  his  talents. 

"  I  suppose  you  have  met  Miss  Fuller,"  Bethune 
resumed. 

"  Yes,"  said  Dick.  "  She  made  things  pleasant  for 
me  when  I  first  went  to  the  tent.  I  like  her  very 
much." 

"  Miss  Fuller  has  most  of  the  New  England  virtues, 
including  a  stern  sense  of  her  responsibility.  I  ex- 
pect you  don't  know  if  she  shares  her  father's  good 
opinion  of  yourself." 

"  I  don't  know  what  Fuller's  opinion  is,"  Dick  re- 
plied awkwardly. 

Bethune  laughed.  "Well,  he's  given  you  a  good 
job.  But  why  I  asked  was  this:  if  Miss  Fuller's 
quite  satisfied  about  you,  she'll  probably  put  her  maver- 
ick brother  in  your  charge.  She  came  here  not  long 
ago  with  the  object  of  finding  out  if  I  was  suited  for 
the  post,  and  I  imagined  learned  something  about  me 
in  a  quiet  way.  It  was  a  relief  when  she  obviously  de- 
cided that  I  wasn't  the  proper  man.  The  girl  has  in- 
telligence. If  she  had  asked  me,  I  could  have  recom- 
mended you." 

"  Do  you  know  much  about  her  brother  ?  " 

"I've  learned  something.  The  lad's  a  breakaway 
from  the  sober  Fuller  type;  and  I  think  his  views  of 
life  rather  agree  with  mine.  However,  perhaps  we 
had  better  let  Miss  Fuller  tell  you  what  she  thinks  fit. 
And  now  would  you  like  some  Frangois  Villon?" 

"  No,"  said  Dick  firmly.  "  I  want  to  see  that  Moran 
turns  out  his  gang  at  sunrise  and  must  get  back." 

"  Pick  me  up  the  book,  anyhow,"  Bethune  replied, 
and  laughed  good-humoredly  when  Dick  left  him. 


CHAPTER  VII 

DICK  UNDERTAKES   A   RESPONSIBILITY 

THE  glare  of  the  big  arc-lights  flooded  the  broad, 
white  plaza  when  Dick  crossed  it  on  his  way 
to  the  Hotel  Magellan.  The  inhabitants  of  Santa 
Brigida  had  finished  their  evening*  meal  and,  as  was 
their  custom,  were  taking  the  air  and  listening  to 
the  military  band.  They  were  of  many  shades  of 
color  and  different  styles  of  dress,  for  dark-skinned 
peons  in  plain  white  cotton,  chattering  negroes,  and 
grave,  blue-clad  Chinamen  mingled  with  the  citizens 
who  claimed  to  spring  from  European  stock.  These, 
however,  for  the  most  part,  were  by  no  means  white, 
and  though  some  derived  their  sallow  skin  from  An- 
dalusian  and  Catalan  ancestors,  others  showed  traces 
of  Carib  origin. 

The  men  were  marked  by  Southern  grace;  the 
younger  women  had  a  dark,  languorous  beauty,  and 
although  their  dress  was,  as  a  rule,  an  out  of  date 
copy  of  Parisian  modes,  their  color  taste  was  good, 
and  the  creamy  white  and  soft  yellow  became  them 
well.  A  number  of  the  men  wore  white  duck,  with 
black  or  red  sashes  and  Panama  hats,  but  some  had 
Spanish  cloaks  and  Mexican  sombreros. 

Flat-topped  houses,  colored  white  and  pink  and 
lemon,  with  almost  unbroken  fronts,  ran  round  the 
square.     A  few  had  green  lattices  and  handsome  iron 

65 


66      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

gates  to  the  arched  entrances  that  ran  like  a  tunnel 
through  the  house,  but  many  showed  no  opening  ex- 
cept a  narrow  slit  of  barred  window.  Santa  Brigida 
was  old,  and  the  part  near  the  plaza  had  been  built 
four  hundred  years  ago. 

Dick  glanced  carelessly  at  the  crowd  as  he  crossed 
the  square.  He  liked  the  music,  and  there  was  some- 
thing interesting  and  exotic  in  the  play  of  moving 
color,  but  his  mind  was  on  his  work  and  he  wondered 
whether  he  would  find  a  man  he  wanted  at  the  hotel. 
One  could  enter  it  by  a  Moorish  arch  that  harmonized 
with  the  Eastern  style  of  its  front;  but  this  had  been 
added,  and  he  went  in  by  the  older  tunnel  and  across 
the  patio  to  the  open-fronted  American  bar  that  occu- 
pied a  space  between  the  balcony  pillars. 

He  did  not  find  his  man,  and  after  ordering  some 
wine,  lighted  a  cigarette  and  looked  about  while  he 
waited  to  see  if  the  fellow  would  come  in.  One  or  two 
steamship  officers  occupied  a  table  close  by,  a  French- 
man was  talking  excitedly  to  a  handsome  Spanish 
lialf-breed,  and  a  fat,  red-faced  German  with  spec- 
tacles sat  opposite  a  big  glass  of  pale-colored  beer. 
Dick  was  not  interested  in  these,  but  his  glance  grew 
keener  as  it  rested  on  a  Spaniard,  who  had  a  contract 
at  the  irrigation  works,  sitting  with  one  of  Fuller's 
storekeepers  at  the  other  end  of  the  room.  Though 
there  was  no  reason  the  Spaniard  should  not  meet  the 
man  in  town,  Dick  wondered  what  they  were  talkmg 
about,  particularly  since  they  had  chosen  a  table  away 
from  everybody  else. 

The  man  he  wanted  did  not  come,  and  by  and  by 
he  determined  to  look  for  him  in  the  hotel.  He  went 
up  an  outside  staircase  from  the  patio,  round  which 


A  RESPONSIBILITY  67 

the  building  ran,  and  had  reached  a  balcony  when  he 
met  Ida  Fuller  coming  down.  She  stopped  with  a 
smile. 

"I  am  rather  glad  to  see  you,"  she  said.  "My 
father,  who  went  on  board  the  American  boat,  has 
not  come  back  as  he  promised,  and  the  French  lady 
he  left  me  with  has  gone." 

"  I'm  going  off  to  a  cargo  vessel  to  ask  when  they'll 
land  our  cement,  and  we  might  find  out  what  is  keep- 
ing Mr.  Fuller,  if  you  don't  mind  walking  to  the 
mole." 

They  left  the  hotel  and  shortly  afterwards  reached 
the  mole,  which  sheltered  the  shallow  harbor  where 
the  cargo  lighters  were  unloaded.  The  long,  smooth 
swell  broke  in  flashes  of  green  and  gold  phospho- 
rescence against  the  concrete  wall,  and  the  moon  threw 
a  broad,  glittering  track  across  the  sea.  There  was  a 
rattle  of  cranes  and  winches,  and  a  noisy  tug  was  tow- 
ing a  row  of  barges  towards  the  land.  The  measured 
thud  of  her  engines  broke  through  the  splash  of  water 
flung  off  the  lighters'  bows  as  they  lurched  across  the 
swell,  and  somebody  on  board  was  singing  a  Spanish 
song.  Farther  out,  a  mailboat's  gently  swaying  hull 
blazed  with  electric  light,  and  astern  of  her  the  re- 
flection of  a  tramp  steamer's  cargo  lamp  quivered 
upon  the  sea.  By  and  by,  Dick,  who  ascertained  that 
Fuller  had  not  landed,  hailed  a  steam  launch,  which 
came  panting  towards  some  steps. 

"  I  can  put  you  on  board  the  American  boat,  and 
bring  you  back  if  Mr.  Fuller  isn't  there,"  he  said,  and 
when  Ida  agreed,  helped  her  into  the  launch. 

Then  he  took  the  helm  while  the  fireman  started 
the  engine,  and  the  craft  went  noisily  down  the  har- 


68      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

bor.  As  they  passed  the  end  of  the  mole,  Dick 
changed  his  course,  and  the  white  town  rose  clear  to 
view  in  the  moonlight  behind  the  sparkling  fringe  of 
surf.  The  flat-topped  houses  rose  in  tiers  up  a  gentle 
slope,  interspersed  with  feathery  tufts  of  green  and 
draped  here  and  there  with  masses  of  creepers.  Nar- 
row gaps  of  shadow  opened  between  them,  and  the 
slender  square  towers  of  the  cathedral  dominated  all, 
but  in  places  a  steep,  red  roof  struck  a  picturesque  but 
foreign  note. 

"  Santa  Brigida  has  a  romantic  look  at  night,"  Dick 
remarked.  "  Somehow  it  reminds  me  of  pictures  of 
the  East." 

"That  is  not  very  strange,"  Ida  answered  with  a 
smile.  "The  flat  roof  and  straight,  unbroken  wall 
is  the  oldest  type  of  architecture.  Man  naturally 
adopted  it  when  he  gave  up  the  tent  and  began  to 
build." 

"  Yes,"  said  Dick.  "  Two  uprights  and  a  beam 
across !  '  You  couldn't  get  anything  much  simpler. 
But  how  did  it  come  here?  " 

"The  Arabs  found  it  in  Palestine  and  took  it  to 
Northern  Africa  as  the  Moslem  conquest  spread.  The 
cube,  however,  isn't  beautiful,  and  the  Moors  elabo- 
rated it,  as  the  Greeks  had  done,  but  in  a  different 
way.  The  latter  broke  the  square  from  the  cornices 
and  pillars ;  the  Moors  with  the  Saracenic  arch,  mina- 
rets, and  fretted  stone,  and  then  forced  their  model 
upon  Spain.  Still  the  primitive  type  survives  longest 
and  the  Spaniards  brought  that  to  the  New  World." 

"No  doubt,  it's  the  explanation.  But  the  high, 
red  roofs  yonder  aren't  Moorish.  The  flat  top  would 
suit  the  dry  East,  but  these  indicate  a  country  where 


A  RESPONSIBILITY  69 

they  need  a  pitch  that  will  shed  the  rain  and  snow. 
In  fact  one  would  imagine  that  the  original  model 
came  from  Germany." 

"  It  really  did.  Spain  was  overrun  by  the  Visi- 
Goths,  who  were  Teutons." 

"Well,"  said  Dick,  "this  is  interesting.  I'm  not 
an  architect,  but  construction's  my  business,  as  well 
as  my  hobby." 

"Then  don't  you  think  you  are  a  fortunate  man?" 

"  In  a  sense,  perhaps,"  Dick  answered.  "  Still, 
that's  no  reason  you  should  be  bored  for  my  entertain- 
ment." He  paused  and  resumed :  "I'm  grateful  be- 
cause you  mean  to  be  kind,  as  you  were  the  night  I 
met  you  first  at  the  tent.  Although  you  had  heard 
my  story,  I  saw  you  wanted  to  make  me  feel  I  was 
being  given  a  fresh  start." 

Ida  studied  him  with  a  thoughtful  calm  that  he 
found  embarrassing.  "  Perhaps  I  did,  but  suppose 
we  talk  about  something  else." 

"  Very  well.  If  it's  not  bad  form,  I  wasn't  in  the 
least  astonished  by  your  lecture  about  the  roofs,  be- 
cause one  finds  your  people  have  a  breadth  of  knowl- 
edge that's  remarkable.  I  once  showed  an  old  abbey 
near  our  place  at  home  to  some  American  tourists, 
and  soon  saw  they  knew  more  about  its  history  than 
I  did.  There  was  a  girl  of  seventeen  who  corrected 
me  once  or  twice,  and  when  I  went  to  the  library  I 
found  that  she  was  right.  The  curious  thing  is  that 
you're,  so  to  speak,  rather  parochial  with  it  all.  One 
of  my  American  employers  treated  me  pretty  well 
until  he  had  to  make  some  changes  in  his  business. 
Took  me  to  his  house  now  and  then,  and  I  found  his 
wife  and  daughters  knew  the  old  French  and  Italian 


70      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

cities.     Yet   they   thought   them    far   behind    MarHn 
Bluff,  which  is  really  a  horribly  ugly  place." 

"I  know  it,"  said  Ida,  laughing.  "Still,  the 
physical  attractiveness  of  a  town  isn't  it's  only  charm. 
Besides,  are  you  sure  you  don't  mean  patriotic  when 
you  say  parochial?  You  ought  to  sympathize  with 
the  former  feeling." 

"  I  don't  know.  Patriotism  is  difficult  when  your 
country  has  no  use  for  you." 

Ida  did  not  reply,  and  it  was  a  few  minutes  later 
when  she  said:  "I'm  glad  I  met  you  to-night,  be- 
cause we  go  home  soon  and  there's  a  favor  I  want  to 
ask.  My  brother  is  coming  out  to  take  a  post  on 
the  irrigation  work  and  I  want  you  to  look  after 
him." 

"But  he  ma}Ti't  like  being  looked  after,  and  it's 
very  possible  he  knows  more  about  the  work  than  I 
do.     I've  only  had  a  military  training." 

"Jake  has  had  no  training  at  all,  and  is  three  or 
four  years  younger  than  I  think  you  are." 

"  Then,  of  course,  I'll  be  glad  to  teach  him  all  I 
can." 

"  That  isn't  exactly  what  I  mean,  although  we  want 
him  to  learn  as  much  as  possible  about  engineering." 

"  I  don't  see  what  else  I  could  teach  him." 

Ida  smiled.  "  Then  I  must  explain.  Jake  is  rash 
and  fond  of  excitement  and  gay  society.  He  makes 
friends  easily  and  trusts  those  he  likes,  but  this  has 
some  drawbacks  because  his  confidence  is  often  mis- 
placed. Now  I  don't  think  you  would  find  it  difficult 
to  gain  some  influence  over  him." 

"And  what  would  you  expect  me  to  do  after- 
wards?" 


A  RESPONSIBILITY  71 

"  You  might  begin  by  trying  to  make  him  see  how 
interesting  his  new  occupation  is." 

"  That  might  be  harder  than  you  think,"  Dick  re- 
plied. "  Molding  concrete  and  digging  irrigation 
ditches  have  a  fascination  for  me,  but  I  dare  say  it's 
an  unusual  taste.  Your  brother  mightn't  like  weigh- 
ing cement  in  the  hot  mixing  sheds  or  dragging  a 
measuring  chain  about  in  the  sun." 

"  It's  very  possible,"  Ida  agreed  with  a  hint  of  dry- 
ness. "  I  want  you  to  show  him  what  it  means ;  make 
him  feel  the  sense  of  power  over  material.  Jake's 
rather  boyish,  and  a  boy  loves  to  fire  a  gun  because 
something  startling  happens  in  obedience  to  his  will 
when  he  pulls  the  trigger.  Isn't  it  much  the  same 
when  one  gives  the  orders  that  shatter  massive  rocks 
and  move  ponderous  stones  ?  However,  that's  not  all. 
I  want  you  to  keep  him  at  the  dam  and  prevent  his 
making  undesirable  friends." 

"  Though  it's  not  the  thing  I'm  cut  out  for,  I'll  try," 
said  Dick,  with  some  hesitation.  "  I'm  surprised  that 
you  should  put  your  brother  in  my  charge,  after  what 
you  know  about  me." 

"  You  were  unfortunate,  negligent,  perhaps,  for 
once." 

"The  trouble  is  that  my  friends  and  relations 
seemed  to  think  me  dishonest.  At  least,  they  believed 
that  my  getting  into  disgrace  was  quite  as  bad." 

"I  don't,"  said  Ida  calmly.  "What  I  ask  will 
need  some  tact,  but  if  you'll  promise  to  look  after 
Jake,  I  shall  feel  satisfied." 

Dick  was  silent  for  the  next  few  moments,  watch- 
ing the  phosphorescent  foam  stream  back  from  the 


72      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

launch's  bows.  Then  he  said :  "  Thank  you,  Miss 
Fuller.  In  a  way,  it's  embarrassing  to  feel  you  trust 
me;  but  I'll  do  what  I  can  to  deserve  it." 

Three  or  four  minutes  afterwards  the  launch 
steamed  round  the  liner's  stern  and  ran  into  the  gloom 
beneath  her  tall  side.  There  was  a  blaze  of  light 
above  that  fell  upon  the  farthest  off  of  the  row  of 
boats,  past  which  the  launch  ran  with  her  engine 
stopped,  and  the  dark  water  broke  into  a  fiery  sparkle 
as  the  swell  lapped  the  steamer's  plates.  A  man  came 
down  the  ladder  when  the  launch  jarred  against  its 
foot,  and  Ida,  finding  that  Fuller  was  still  on  board, 
went  up  while  Dick  steamed  across  to  the  cargo-boat 
that  lay  with  winches  hammering  not  far  off.  After 
talking  to  her  mate,  he  returned  to  the  harbor,  and 
when  he  landed,  lighted  a  cigarette  and  studied  some 
alterations  that  were  being  made  at  the  landward  end 
of  the  mole.  He  had  noticed  the  work  as  he  passed 
with  Ida,  but  was  now  able  to  examine  it.  A  number 
of  concrete  blocks  and  cement  bags  were  lying  about. 

Beckoning  a  peon  who  seemed  to  be  the  watchman, 
Dick  gave  him  a  cigarette  and  asked :  "  How  far  are 
they  going  to  re- face  the  mole?  " 

"  As  far  as  the  post  yonder,  sefior." 

It  was  obvious  that  a  large  quantity  of  cement 
would  be  required  and  Dick  resumed :  "  Who  is  do- 
ing the  work  ?  " 

"  Don  Ramon  Oliva." 

Dick  hid  his  interest.  Ramon  Oliva  was  the  man 
he  had  seen  talking  to  Fuller's  storekeeper  at  the  hotel. 

"Where  does  one  buy  cement  in  this  town?" 

"  Sefior  Vaz,  the  merchant,  sells  it  now  and  then." 


A  RESPONSIBILITY  73 

Dick  let  the  peon  go,  and  leaving  the  mole,  found 
Vaz  in  a  cafe.  Sitting  down  at  his  table  he  asked: 
"  Do  you  keep  cement  in  your  warehouse  ?  " 

"Sometimes,"  said  the  other;  "when  work  it  is 
required  for  is  going  on.  But  I  sold  the  last  I  had 
two  or  three  months  ago." 

"  I  believe  we  run  short  now  and  then,  but  we  have 
a  big  lot  being  landed  now.  As  our  sheds  will  be 
pretty  full,  I  could  let  you  have  a  quantity  if  you 
like." 

"  Thanks,  but  no,"  said  the  merchant.  "  I  do  not 
think  anybody  would  buy  it  from  me  for  some  time, 
and  it  is  bad  to  keep  when  one's  store  is  damp." 

Dick,  who  drank  a  glass  of  wine  with  him,  went 
away  in  a  thoughtful  mood.  He  wondered  where 
Don  Ramon  got  his  cement,  and  meant  to  find  out, 
though  he  saw  that  caution  would  be  needed.  He 
owed  much  to  Fuller  and  had  made  his  master's  busi- 
ness his.  Now  it  looked  as  if  Fuller  were  being 
robbed  and  although  he  had,  no  doubt,  cunning  rogues 
to  deal  with,  Dick  determined  that  the  thing  must 
be  stopped.  When  he  returned  to  the  dam  he  went  to 
Bethune's  hut  and  found  him  lying  in  his  hammock. 

"  Whose  duty  is  it  to  check  the  storekeeper's  lists?  " 
he  asked.  "  I  suppose  you  strike  a  balance  between 
the  goods  delivered  him  and  the  stuff  he  hands  out 
for  use  on  the  works." 

"  It's  done,  of  course,"  said  Bethune.  "  I  haven't 
examined  the  books  myself;  Frangois,  the  Creole 
clerk,  is  responsible.  However,  one  would  imagine 
you  had  duties  enough  without  taking  up  another,  but 
if  you  mean  to  do  so,  you  had  better  begin  soon. 
Your  energy  won't  stand  this  climate  long." 


74      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

"  I  don't  know  what  I  may  do  yet,"  Dick  replied. 
"  Still,  it  struck  me  that  our  stores  might  be  sold  in 

the  town." 

"  I  expect  they  are,  to  some  extent,"  Bethune  care- 
lessly agreed.  "  That  kind  of  thing  is  hard  to  stop 
anywhere,  and  these  folks  are  very  smart  at  petty 
pilfering.  Anyway,  you  might  get  yourself  mto 
trouble  by  interfering  and  any  small  theft  you  stopped 
probably  wouldn't  pay  for  the  time  you'd  have  to 
spend  on  the  job.  Leave  it  alone,  and  take  matters 
as  you  find  them,  is  my  advice." 

Dick  talked  about  something  else,  but  when  he 
went  back  to  his  shack  he  knew  what  he,  meant  to  do. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

AN    INFORMAL  COURT 

ONE  morning,  soon  after  Fuller  and  his  daughter 
had  gone  home,  Dick  stood  at  a  table  in  the 
testing  house  behind  the  mixing  sheds.  The  small, 
galvanized  iron  building  shook  with  the  throb  of  en- 
gines and  rattle  of  machinery,  and  now  and  then  a 
shower  of  cinders  pattered  upon  the  roof;  for  the  big 
mill  that  ground  up  the  concrete  was  working  across 
the  road.  The  lattice  shutters  were  closed,  for  the 
sake  of  privacy,  and  kept  out  the  glare,  though  they 
could  not  keep  out  the  heat,  which  soaked  through  the 
thin,  iron  walls,  and  Dick's  face  was  wet  with  perspira- 
tion as  he  arranged  a  number  of  small  concrete  blocks. 
Some  of  these  were  broken,  and  some  partly  crushed. 
Delicate  scales  and  glass  measures  occupied  a  neigh- 
boring shelf,  and  a  big  steel  apparatus  that  looked 
rather  like  a  lever  weighing  machine  stood  in  the 
shadow. 

Where  the  draught  that  came  through  the  lattices 
flowed  across  the  room,  Bethune  lounged  in  a  canvas 
chair,  and  another  man,  with  a  quiet,  sunburned  face, 
sat  behind  him.  This  was  Stuyvesant,  whose  author- 
ity was  only  second  to  Fuller's, 

"  Brandon  seems  to  have  taken  a  good  deal  of 
trouble,  but  this  kind  of  investigation  needs  the  strict- 

75 


76      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

est  accuracy,  and  we  haven't  the  best  of  testing  ap- 
paratus," Bethune  remarked.  "I  expect  he'll  allow 
that  the  results  he  has  got  may  be  to  some  extent  mis- 
leading, and  I  doubt  if  it's  worth  while  to  go  on  with 
the  matter.  Are  you  sure  you  have  made  no  mis- 
takes, Dick  ?  " 

Dick  pondered  for  a  few  moments.  If  he  were 
right,  as  he  thought  he  was,  the  statements  he  had  to 
make  would  lead  to  the  discharge  of  the  sub-con- 
tractor. Remembering  his  own  disgrace,  he  shrank 
from  condemning  another.  He  knew  what  he  had 
suffered,  and  the  man  might  be  innocent  although  his 
guilt  seemed  plain.  It  was  a  hateful  situation,  but 
his  duty  was  to  protect  his  master's  interests  and  he 
could  not  see  him  robbed. 

"You   can   check   my   calculations,"   he   answered 

quietly. 

"  That's  so,"  agreed  Stuyvesant,  who  added  with  a 
dry  smile  as  he  noted  Bethune's  disapproving  look: 
"  We  can  decide  about  going  on  with  the  thing  when 
we  have  heard  Brandon." 

"  Very  well,"  said  Dick,  giving  him  some  papers, 
and  then  indicated  two  different  rows  of  the  small- 
concrete  blocks.  "  These  marked  A  were  made  from 
cement  in  our  store ;  the  lot  B  from  some  I  took  from 
diva's  stock  on  the  mole.  They  were  subjected  to 
the  same  compressive,  shearing,  and  absorbent  tests, 
and  you'll  see  that  there's  very  little  difference  in  the 
results.  The  quality  of  standard  makes  of  cement  is, 
no  doubt,  much  alike,  but  you  wouldn't  expect  to  find 
that  of  two  different  brands  identical.  My  contention 
is  that  the  blocks  were  made  from  the  same  stuff." 

Stuyvesant    crossed   the   floor   and   measured   the 


AN  INFORMAL  COURT  77 

blocks  with  a  micrometer  gage,  after  which  he  filled 
two  of  the  graduated  glass  measures  and  then  weighed 
the  water. 

"  Well  ?  "  he  said  to  Bethune,  who  had  picked  up 
Dick's  calculations. 

"  The  figures  are  right ;  he's  only  out  in  a  small 
decimal." 

Stuyvesant  took  the  papers  and  compared  them  with 
a  printed  form  he  produced  from  his  pocket. 

"  They  correspond  with  the  tests  the  maker  claims 
his  stuff  will  stand,  and  we  can  take  it  that  they're  ac- 
curate. Still,  this  doesn't  prove  that  Oliva  stole  the 
cement  from  us.  The  particular  make  is  popular  on 
this  coast,  and  he  may  have  bought  a  quantity  from 
somebody  else.  Did  you  examine  the  bags  on  the 
mole,  Brandon?  " 

"  No,"  said  Dick,  "  I  had  to  get  my  samples  in 
the  dark.  If  Oliva  bought  the  cement,  he  must  have 
kept  it  for  some  time,  because  the  only  man  in  the 
town  who  stocks  it  sold  the  last  he  had  three  months 
ago.  The  next  thing  is  our  storekeeper's  tally  show- 
ing the  number  of  bags  delivered  to  him.  I  sat  up 
half  the  night  trying  to  balance  this  against  what  he 
handed  out  and  could  make  nothing  of  the  entries." 

"  Let  me  see,"  said  Bethune,  and  lighted  a  cigarette 
when  Dick  handed  him  a  book,  and  a  bundle  of  small, 
numbered  forms.  "  You  can  talk,  if  you  like,"  he 
added  as  he  sharpened  a  pencil. 

Dick  moved  restlessly  up  and  down  the  floor,  ex- 
amining the  testing  apparatus,  but  he  said  nothing, 
and  Stuyvesant  did  not  speak.  He  was  a  reserved 
and  thoughtful  man.  After  a  time,  Bethune  threw 
the  papers  on  the  table. 


78      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

"Frangois  isn't  much  of  a  bookkeeper,"  he  re- 
marked. "  One  or  two  of  the  dehvery  slips  have  been 
entered  twice,  and  at  first  I  suspected  he  might  have 
conspired  with  OHva.  Still,  that's  against  my  notion 
of  his  character,  and  I  find  he's  missed  booking  stuff 
that  had  been  given  out,  which,  of  course,  wouldn't 
have  suited  the  other's  plans." 

"  You  can  generally  count  on  a  Frenchman's  hon- 
esty," Stuyvesant  observed.  "  But  do  you  make  the 
deliveries  ex-store  tally  with  what  went  in?  " 

"  I  don't,"  said  Bethune  dryly.  "  Here's  the  bal- 
ance I  struck.  It  shows  the  storekeeper  is  a  good 
many  bags  short." 

He  passed  the  paper  across,  and  Dick  examined  it 
with  surprise. 

"  You  have  worked  this  out  already  from  the  mud- 
dled and  blotted  entries !     Do  you  think  you've  got  it 

right?" 

"  I'm  sure,"  said  Bethune,  smiling.  "  I'll  prove  it 
if  you  like.  We  know  how  much  cement  went  into 
stock.  How  many  molded  blocks  of  the  top  course 
have  we  put  down  at  the  dam?  " 

Dick  told  him,  and  after  a  few  minutes'  calculation 
Bethune  looked  up.  "  Then  here  you  are!  Our  con- 
crete's a  standard  density;  we  know  the  weight  of 
water  and  sand  and  what  to  allow  for  evaporation. 
You  see  my  figures  agree  very  closely  with  the  total 
delivery  ex-store." 

They  did  so,  and  Dick  no  longer  wondered  how 
Bethune,  who  ostentatiously  declined  to  let  his  work 
interfere  with  his  comfort,  held  his  post.  The  man 
thought  in  numbers,  using  the  figures,  as  one  used 
words,   to   express  his  knowledge  rather  than  as  a 


AN  INFORMAL  COURT  79 

means  of  obtaining  it  by  calculation.  Dick  imagined 
this  was  genius. 

"  Well,"  said  Stuyvesant,  "  I  guess  we  had  better 
send  for  the  storekeeper  next." 

"  Get  it  over,"  agreed  Bethune.  "  It's  an  unpleas- 
ant job." 

Dick  sent  a  half -naked  peon  to  look  for  the  man, 
and  was  sensible  of  some  nervous  strain  as  he  waited 
for  his  return.  He  hated  the  task  he  had  undertaken, 
but  it  must  be  carried  out.  Bethune,  who  had  at 
first  tried  to  discourage  him,  now  looked  interested, 
and  Dick  saw  that  Stuyvesant  was  resolute.  In  the 
meanwhile,  the  shed  had  grown  suffocatingly  hot,  his 
face  and  hands  were  wet  with  perspiration,  and  the 
rumble  of  machinery  made  his  head  ache.  He  lighted 
a  cigarette,  but  the  tobacco  tasted  bitter  and  he  threw 
it  away.  Then  there  were  footsteps  outside  and 
StU3rvesant  turned  to  him. 

"  We  leave  you  to  put  the  thing  through.  You're 
prosecutor." 

Dick  braced  himself  as  a  man  came  in  and  stood 
by  the  table,  looking  at  the  others  suspiciously.  He 
was  an  American,  but  his  face  was  heavy  and  rather 
sullen,  and  his  white  clothes  were  smeared  with  dust. 

"  We  have  been  examining  your  stock-book,"  said 
Dick.     "  It's  badly  kept." 

The  fellow  gave  him  a  quick  glance.  "  Mr.  Fuller 
knows  I'm  not  smart  at  figuring,  and  if  you  want 
the  books  neat,  you'll  have  to  get  me  a  better  clerk. 
Anyhow,  I've  my  own  tally  and  allow  I  can  tell  you 
what  stuff  I  get  and  where  it  goes." 

"  That  is  satisfactory.  Look  at  this  list  and  tell 
me  where  the  cement  you're  short  of  has  gone." 


8o      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

"Into  the  mixing  shed,  I  guess,"  said  the  other 
with  a  half -defiant  frown. 

"  Then  it  didn't  come  out.  We  haven't  got  the  con- 
crete at  the  dam.  Are  there  any  full  bags  not  ac- 
counted for  in  the  shed?  " 

"  No,  sir.  You  ought  to  know  the  bags  are  skipped 
right  into  the  tank  as  the  mill  grinds  up  the  mush." 

"  Very  well.  Perhaps  you'd  better  consult  your 
private  tally  and  see  if  it  throws  any  light  upon  the 
matter." 

The  man  took  out  a  note-book  and  while  he  studied 
it  Bethune  asked,  "  Will  you  let  me  have  the  book?  " 

"  I  guess  not,"  said  the  other,  who  shut  the  book 
with  a  snap,  and  then  turned  and  confronted  Dick. 

"  I  want  to  know  why  you're  getting  after  me !  " 

"  It's  fairly  plain.  You're  responsible  for  the  stores 
and  can't  tell  us  what  has  become  of  a  quantity  of  the 
goods." 

"  Suppose  I  own  up  that  my  tally's  got  mixed?  " 

"  Then  you'd  show  yourself  unfit  for  your  job ;  but 
that  is  not  the  worst.  If  you  had  made  a  mistake 
the  bags  wouldn't  vanish.  You  had  the  cement,  it 
isn't  in  the  store  and  hasn't  reached  us  in  the  form 
of  concrete.     It  must  have  gone  somewhere." 

"  Where  do  you  reckon  it  went,  if  it  wasn't  into  the 
mixing  shed  ?  " 

"To  the  Santa  Brigida  mole,"  Dick  answered 
quietly,  and  noting  the  man's  abrupt  movement,  went 
on :  "  What  were  you  talking  to  Ramon  Oliva  about 
at  the  Hotel  Magellan?  " 

The  storekeeper  did  not  reply,  but  the  anger  and 
confusion  in  his  face  were  plain,  and  Dick  turned  to 
the  others. 


AN  INFORMAL  COURT  81 

"  I  think  we'll  send  for  Oliva,"  said  Stuyvesant. 
"  Keep  this  fellow  here  until  he  comes." 

Oliva  entered  tranquilly,  though  his  black  eyes  got 
very  keen  when  he  glanced  at  his  sullen  accomplice. 
He  was  picturesquely  dressed,  with  a  black  silk  sash 
round  his  waist  and  a  big  Mexican  sombrero.  Taking 
out  a  cigarette,  he  remarked  that  it  was  unusually  hot. 

"  You  are  doing  some  work  on  the  town  mole," 
Dick  said  to  him.     "  Where  did  you  get  the  cement  ?  " 

"  I  bought  it,"  Oliva  answered,  with  a  surprised 
look. 

"  From  whom  ?  " 

"A  merchant  at  Anagas,  down  the  coast.  But, 
sefiores,  my  contract  on  the  mole  is  a  matter  for  the 
port  officials.  I  do  not  see  the  object  of  these  ques- 
tions." 

*"  You  had  better  answer  them,"  Stuyvesant  re- 
marked, and  signed  Dick  to  go  on. 

Dick  paused  for  a  moment  or  two,  remembering 
how  he  had  confronted  his  judges  in  a  tent  in  an  Eng- 
lish valley.  The  scene  came  back  with  poignant  dis- 
tinctness. 

He  could  hear  the  river  brawling  among  the  stones, 
and  feel  his  Colonel's  stern,  condemning  gaze  fixed 
upon  his  face.  For  all  that,  his  tone  was  resolute 
as  he  asked:  "What  was  the  brand  of  the  cement 
you  bought  ?  " 

"  The  Tenax,  sefior,"  Oliva  answered  with  a  defiant 
smile. 

Then  Dick  turned  to  the  others  with  a  gesture  which 
implied  that  there  was  no  more  to  be  said,  and  quietly 
sat  down.  Tenax  was  not  the  brand  that  Fuller  used, 
and  its  different  properties  would  have  appeared  in 


82      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

the  tests.  The  sub-contractor  had  betrayed  himself 
by  the  he,  and  his  accomphce  looked  at  him  with  dis- 
gust, 

"You've  given  the  thing  away,"  he  growled. 
"  Think  they  don't  know  what  cement  is?  Now  they 
have  you  fixed !  " 

There  was  silence  for  the  next  minute  while  Stuyve- 
sant  studied  some  figures  in  his  pocket-book.  Then 
he  wrote  upon  a  leaf,  which  he  tore  out  and  told  Dick 
to  give  it  to  Qliva. 

"  Here's  a  rough  statement  of  your  account  up  to 
the  end  of  last  month,  Don  Ramon,"  he  said.  "  You 
can  check  it  and  aftenvards  hand  the  pay-clerk  a  formal 
bill,  brought  up  to  date,  but  you'll  notice  I  have 
charged  you  with  a  quantity  of  cement  that's  missmg 
from  our  store.     Your  engagement  with  Mr.  Fuller 

ends  to-day." 

Qliva  spread  out  his  hands  with  a  dramatic  gesture. 
"  Sefiores,  this  is  a  scandal,  a  grand  injustice!  You 
understand  it  will  ruin  me?     It  is  impossible  that  I 

submit." 

"  Very  well.     We'll  put  the  matter  into  the  hands 

of  the  Jiisticia."  ^^ 

"  It  is  equal,"  Qliva  declared  with  passion.  You 
have  me  marked  as  a  thief.  The  port  officials  give 
me  no  more  work  and  my  friends  talk.  At  the  Jus- 
ticia  all  the  world  hears  my  defense." 

"  As  you  like,"  said  Stuyvesant,  but  the  storekeeper 
turned  to  Qliva  with  a  contemptuous  grin. 

"I  allow  you're  not  such  a  blamed  fool,"  he  re- 
marked. "  Take  the  chance  they've  given  you  and 
get  from  under  before  the  roof  falls  in." 

Oliva  pondered  for  a  few  moments,  his  eyes  fixed 


AN  INFORMAL  COURT  83 

on  Stuyvesant's  unmoved  face,  and  then  shrugged  with 
an  air  of  injured  resignation. 

"  It  is  a  grand  scandal,  but  I  make  my  bill." 

He  moved  slowly  to  the  door,  but  paused  as  he 
reached  it,  and  gave  Dick  a  quick,  malignant  glance. 
Then  he  went  out  and  the  storekeeper  asked  Stuyve- 
sant :     "  What  are  you  going  to  do  with  me  ?  " 

**  Fire  you  right  now.  Go  along  to  the  pay-clerk 
and  give  him  your  time.  I  don't  know  if  that's  all 
we  ought  to  do ;  but  we'll  be  satisfied  if  you  and  your 
partner  get  off  this  camp." 

"  I'll  quit,"  said  the  storekeeper,  who  turned  to 
Dick.  "  You're  a  smart  kid,  but  we'd  have  bluffed 
you  all  right  if  the  fool  had  allowed  he  used  the  same 
cement." 

Then  he  followed  Oliva,  and  Stuyvesant  got  up. 

"  That  was  Oliva's  mistake,"  he  remarked.  "  I  saw 
where  you  were  leading  him  and  you  put  the  questions 
well.  Now,  however,  you'll  have  to  take  on  his  duties 
until  we  get  another  man." 

They  left  the  testing-house,  and  as  Bethune  and 
Dick  walked  up  the  valley  the  former  said :  "  It's  my 
opinion  that  you  were  imprudent  in  one  respect.  You 
showed  the  fellows  that  it  was  you  who  found  them 
out.  It  might  have  been  better  if  you  had,  so  to  speak, 
divided  the  responsibility." 

"  They've  gone,  and  that's  the  most  important 
thing,"  Dick  rejoined. 

"  From  the  works.  It  doesn't  follow  that  they'll 
quit  Santa  Brigida.  Payne,  the  storekeeper,  is  of 
course  an  American  tough,  but  I  don't  think  he'll  make 
trouble.  He'd  have  robbed  us  cheerfully,  but  I  expect 
he'll  take  his  being  found  out  as  a  risk  of  the  game; 


84      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

besides,  Stuyvesant  will  have  to  ship  him  home  if  he 
asks  for  his  passage.  But  I  didn't  like  the  look  Oliva 
gave  you.  These  dago  half-breeds  are  a  revengeful 
lot." 

"  I'm  not  in  the  town  often  and  I'll  be  careful  if 
I  go  there  after  dark.  To  tell  the  truth,  I  didn't  want 
to  interfere,  but  I  couldn't  let  the  rogues  go  on  with 
their  stealing." 

"I  suppose  not,"  Bethune  agreed.  "The  trouble 
about  doing  your  duty  is  that  it  often  costs  you  some- 
thing." 


CHAPTER  IX 

JAKE  FULLER 

A  MONTH  after  Fuller  sailed  his  son  arrived  at 
Santa  Brigida,  and  Dick,  who  met  him  on  the 
mole,  got  something  of  a  surprise  when  a  handsome 
youth  landed  and  came  straight  towards  him.  Jake 
Fuller  was  obviously  very  young,  but  had  an  ease  of 
manner  and  a  calm  self-confidence  that  would  have 
done  credit  to  an  elderly  man  of  the  world.  His 
clothes  showed  nice  taste,  and  there  was  nothing  about 
him  to  indicate  the  reckless  scapegrace  Dick  had  ex- 
pected. 

"  You're  Brandon,  of  course,"  he  said  as  he  shook 
hands.  "  Glad  to  meet  you.  Knew  you  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  off." 

"How's  that?"  Dick  asked.  "You  haven't  seen 
me  before." 

"  For  one  thing,  you're  stamped  Britisher ;  then  you 
had  a  kind  of  determined  look,  as  if  you'd  come  down 
to  yank  me  right  off  to  the  irrigation  ditches  before 
I'd  time  to  run  loose  in  the  city.  Matter  of  duty  to 
you,  and  you  were  going  to  put  it  through." 

Dick  said  nothing,  and  Jake  laughed.  "  Well,  that's 
all  right ;  I  guess  we'll  hit  it !  And  now  we'll  put  out 
when  you  like.  I  laid  in  a  pretty  good  breakfast  on 
the  boat ;  I  like  smart  service  and  a  well-chosen  menu, 
and  don't  suppose  you  have  either  at  the  camp." 

8s 


86      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

"  They  might  be  better,"  Dick  agreed,  feeling  that 
he  had  promised  Miss  Fuller  more  than  he  might  be 
able  to  perform.  Then  he  told  a  peon  to  take  Jake's 
luggage  and  led  the  way  to  a  mule  carriage  at  the  end 
of  the  mole. 

"  I  didn't  expect  to  ride  in  a  transfer-wagon,"  Jake 
remarked.  "Haven't  you  any  autos  yet?  If  not, 
I'll  indent  for  one  when  the  next  stock  order  goes 
home." 

"  Perhaps  you  had  better  wait  until  you  see  the 
roads." 

"  You're  surely  British,"  Jake  replied.  "If  you'd 
been  an  American,  you'd  get  the  car  first  and  make 
the  roads  fit  in.  However,  you  might  tell  the  ancient 
dago  to  get  a  move  on." 

Dick  was  silent  for  the  next  few  minutes.  On  the 
whole,  he  thought  he  would  like  Fuller,  and  made 
some  allowance  for  the  excitement  he,  no  doubt,  felt 
at  beginning  his  career  in  a  foreign  country,  but  none 
for  any  wish  to  impress  his  companion.  It  was  un- 
likely that  the  self-possessed  lad  would  care  what  Dick 
thought  of  him,  although  it  looked  as  if  he  meant  to 
be  friendly.  Then  as  the  sweating  mules  slowly 
climbed  the  rutted  track  out  of  the  town  Dick  began 
to  point  out  the  changing  level  of  the  land,  the  ravines, 
or  barrancos,  that  formed  natural  drainage  channels 
from  the  high  watershed,  and  the  influence  of  drought 
and  moisture  on  the  cultivation.  Jake  showed  a  po- 
lite interest,  but  inquired  what  amusements  were  to  be 
had  in  Santa  Brigida,  about  which  Dick  gave  him  as 
little  information  as  possible.  If  he  had  understood 
Miss  Fuller's  hints,  the  Spanish  city  was  no  place  for 
her  brother. 


JAKE  FULLER  87 

Jake  spent  the  day  following  Dick  about  the  works 
and  made  no  complaint  about  the  heat  and  dust,  though 
he  frowned  when  a  shower  of  cement  or  a  splash  of 
oil  fell  upon  his  clothes.  It  was  obvious  that  he  knew 
nothing  about  engineering,  but  the  questions  he  asked 
indicated  keen  intelligence  and  Dick  was  satisfied.  A 
room  adjoining  the  latter's  quarters  had  been  prepared 
for  the  newcomer,  and  they  sat,  smoking,  on  the  ve- 
randa after  the  evening  meal. 

"  Do  you  think  you'll  like  your  work  ?  "  Dick  asked. 

"  I've  got  to  like  it,  and  it  might  be  worse.  Since 
I'm  not  allowed  to  draw  or  model  things,  I  can  make 
them,  and  I  guess  tliat's  another  form  of  the  same 
talent,  though  it's  considerably  less  interesting  than 
the  first." 

"  But  perhaps  more  useful,"  Dick  suggested. 

"  Well,  I  don't  know.  Our  taste  is  pretty  bar- 
barous, as  a  riile,  and  you  can't  claim  that  yours  is 
more  advanced,  but  I  allow  that  the  Spaniards  who 
built  Santa  Brigida  had  an  eye  for  line  and  color. 
These  dagos  have  a  gift  we  lack;  you  can  see  it  in 
the  way  they  wear  their  clothes.  My  notion  is  that 
it's  some  use  to  teach  your  countrymen  to  admire 
beauty  and  grace.  We're  great  at  making  things,  but 
there's  no  particular  need  to  make  them  ugly." 

"  Then  you're  a  bit  of  an  artist?  " 

"  I  meant  to  be  a  whole  one  and  might  have  made 
good,  although  the  old  man  has  not  much  use  for  art. 
Unfortunately,  however,  I  felt  I  had  to  kick  against 
the  conventionality  of  the  life  I  led  and  the  protest 
I  put  up  was  a  little  too  vigorous.  It  made  trouble, 
and  in  consequence,  my  folks  decided  I'd  better  be  an 


88      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

engineer.  I  couldn't  follow  their  arguments,  but  had 
to  acquiesce." 

*'  It's  curious  how  you  artists  claim  to  be  exempt 
from  the  usual  rules,  as  if  you  were  different  from  the 
rest  of  us." 

"  We  are  different,"  Jake  rejoined  with  a  twinkle. 
"It's  our  business  to  see  the  truth  of  things,  while 
you  try  to  make  it  fit  your  formulas  about  what  you 
think  is  most  useful  to  yourself  or  society.  A  for- 
mula's like  bad  spectacles;  it  distorts  the  sight,  and 
yours  is  plainly  out  of  focus.  For  example,  I  guess 
you're  satisfied  with  the  white  clothes  you're  wear- 
ing." 

"  I  don't  know  that  it's  important,  but  what's  the 

matter  with  them  ?  " 

"  Well,"  said  Jake,  with  a  critical  glance,  "  they're 
all  wrong.  Now  you've  got  good  shoulders,  your 
figure's  well  balanced,  and  I  like  the  way  you  hold 
your  head,  but  your  tailor  has  spoiled  every  promi- 
nent line.  I'll  show  you  some  time  when  I  model 
you  in  clay."  He  paused  and  grinned.  "I  guess 
the  Roman  sentinel  pose  would  suit  you  best,  as  I 
noted  it  when  you  stood  on  the  mole  waiting  for  me, 
determined  to  do  your  duty  at  any  cost.  Besides, 
there  is  something  of  the  soldier  about  you." 

"  I  wish  you'd  stop  rotting,"  said  Dick  with  a  touch 
of  awkwardness,  though  he  saw  that  Jake  knew  noth- 
ing about  his  leaving  the  army.  "  Was  it  your  father's 
notion  that  you  should  be  an  engineer?  " 

"He  thinks  so,"  Jake  answered,  grinning.  "My 
opinion  is  that  you  have  to  thank  my  sister  Ida  for 
the  job  of  looking  after  me.     She  made  this  her  busi- 


JAKE  FULLER  89 

ness  until  I  went  to  Yale,  when,  of  course,  she  lost 
control.  Ida  has  a  weakness  for  managing  people, 
for  their  good,  but  you  ought  to  take  it  as  a  delicate 
compliment  that  she  passed  me  on  to  you." 

"  After  all.  Miss  Fuller's  age  must  be  nearly  the 
same  as  mine,"  Dick  remarked. 

"  I  see  what  you  mean,  but  in  some  respects  she's 
much  older.  In  fact,  I  guess  I  could  give  you  a  year 
or  two  myself.  But  it  seems  to  me  you've  kind  of 
wilted  since  we  began  to  talk.  You've  gone  slack  and 
your  eyes  look  heavy.  Say,  I'm  sorry  if  I've  made 
you  tired." 

"  I  don't  think  you  had  much  to  do  with  it,"  said 
Dick.  "  My  head  aches  and  I've  a  shivery  feeling 
that  came  on  about  this  time  last  night.  A  touch  of 
malarial  fever,  perhaps;  they  get  it  now  and  then  in 
the  town,  though  we  ought  to  be  free  from  it  on  the 
hill.     Anyhow,  if  you  don't  mind,  I'll  get  off  to  bed." 

He  went  away,  and  Jake  looked  about  the  veranda 
and  the  room  that  opened  on  to  it.  There  was  a 
canvas  chair  or  two,  a  folding  table,  a  large  drawing 
board  on  a  trestle  frame,  and  two  cheap,  tin  lamps. 
It  was  obvious  that  Dick  thought  of  nothing  much 
except  his  work  and  had  a  Spartan  disregard  for  com- 
fort. 

"  A  good  sort,  but  it's  concrete  first  and  last  with 
him,"  Jake  remarked.  "  Guess  I've  got  to  start  by 
making  this  shack  fit  for  a  white  man  to  live  in." 

Dick  passed  a  restless  night,  but  felt  better  when 
he  began  his  work  on  the  dam  next  morning,  though 
he  did  not  touch  the  small  hard  roll  and  black  coffee 
his  colored  steward  had  put  ready  for  him.  The  air 
was.  fresh,  the  jungle  that  rolled  down  the  hill  glit- 


90      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

tered  with  dew,  and  the  rays  of  the  red  sun  had,  so 
far  only  a  pleasant  warmth.  Cranes  were  rattling, 
locomotives  snorted  as  they  moved  the  ponderous  con- 
crete blocks  and  hauled  away  loads  of  earth,  and  a 
crowd  of  picturesque  figures  were  busy  about  the  dam. 
Some  wore  dirty  white  cotton  and  ragged  crimson 
sashes;  the  dark  limbs  of  others  projected  from  gar- 
ments of  vivid  color.  Dick  drove  the  men  as  hard 
as  he  was  able.  They  worked  well,  chattering  and 
laughing,  in  the  early  morning,  and  there  was  much 
to  be  done,  because  diva's  dismissal  had  made  a  dif- 
ference. 

The  men  flagged,  as  the  sun  got  higher,  and  at 
length  Dick  sat  down  in  the  thin  shade  of  a  tree.  Ihe 
light  was  now  intense,  the  curving  dam  gleamed  a 
dazzling  pearly-gray  through  a  quivering  radiance, 
and  the  water  that  had  gathered  behind  it  shone  like 
molten  silver.  One  could  imagine  that  the  pools  re- 
flected heat  as  well  as  light.  Dick's  eyes  ached  and 
for  a  few  minutes  he  let  them  rest  upon  the  glossy, 
green  jungle,  and  the  belts  of  cultivation  down  the 

hill.  ,  , 

Then  he  roused  himself,  because  he  must  watcti 
what  was  going  on.  The  great  blocks  must  be  prop- 
erly fitted  into  place,  and  one  could  not  trust  the  dusky 
laborers  to  use  the  care  that  was  needed;  besides,  they 
were  getting  slack,  and  the  fresh  blocks  the  locomo- 
tives brought  would  soon  begin  to  accumulate.  Since 
this  would  mean  extra  handling  and  consequent  ex- 
pense, the  track  must  be  kept  clear.  Still  Dick 
wished  noon  would  come,  for  his  head  ached  badly 
and  he  felt  the  heat  as  he  had  not  felt  it  before. 

It  was  hard  to  force  himself  to  begin  again  after 


JAKE  FULLER  91 

the  short  mid-day  rest,  but  he  became  a  httle  more 
vigorous  as  the  sun  sank  and  the  shadow  of  the  black 
Cordillera  lengthened  across  the  valley.  After  dinner, 
when  he  lounged  on  the  veranda,  the  headache  and 
lassitude  returned,  and  he  listened  to  Jake's  talk  va- 
cantly and  soon  went  to  bed.  He  knew  he  was  not 
well,  but  while  malarial  fever  was  not  unusual  in  the 
neighborhood  people  seldom  took  it  in  a  virulent  form, 
and  as  there  was  a  good  doctor  at  Santa  Brigida  he 
determined  to  consult  him  when  he  had  occasion  to 
visit  the  town.  As  it  happened,  a  crane  broke  next 
day,  and  when  evening  came  he  set  off  to  inquire  if 
new  castings  could  be  made  for  it  in  the  Spanish 
foundry.  While  he  waited  for  an  engine  to  take  him 
down  the  line,  Jake  announced  his  intention  of  com- 
ing. 

"  I've  never  been  round  a  Spanish  town,"  he  said. 

"You're  not  going  round  a  Spanish  town  now,  if 
I  can  prevent  it,"  Dick  rejoined.  "  However,  I  sup- 
pose I  can't  order  you  off  your  father's  locomotive." 

Jake  smiled.  "  You  can  resent  my  taking  the  line 
you  hint  at  when  I've  done  so,  but  I  guess  one  must 
make  allowances.  You're  getting  the  fever  badly, 
partner." 

"  It's  the  heat,"  Dick  answered  in  an  apologetic 
tone.  "  Anyhow,  Santa  Brigida's  a  dirty,  uninterest- 
ing place." 

"  I  expect  your  ideas  of  what's  interesting  are  dif- 
ferent from  mine.  Concrete's  all  right  in  the  day- 
time, though  you  can  have  too  much  of  it  then,  but  you 
want  to  please  your  eye  and  relax  your  brain  at  night." 

"  I  was  afraid  of  something  of  the  kind.  But 
here's  the  locomotive.     Get  up,  if  you're  coming." 


92      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

Dick  was  silent  as  the  engine  jolted  down  the  track, 
for  he  was  feverish  and  his  companion's  talk  irritated 
him.  Besides,  he  had  promised  Ida  Fuller  to  take 
care  of  the  lad  and  knew  something  of  the  license 
that  ruled  in  the  city.  Jake  seemed  to  claim  the  sup- 
posititious privileges  of  the  artistic  temperament,  and 
there  were  wine-shops,  gamblers,  pretty  Creole  girls 
with  easy  manners,  and  ragged  desperados  who  car- 
ried knives,  in  Santa  Brigida.  In  fact,  it  offered  too 
many  opportunities  for  romantic  adventures.  In  con- 
sequence, Dick  went  to  the  Hotel  Magellan,  which 
they  reached  after  walking  from  the  end  of  the  line, 
and  took  Jake  into  the  bar. 

"  You  had  better  stop  here ;  I  won't  be  longer  than 
I  can  help,"  he  said.  "They'll  make  you  a  rather 
nice  iced  drink  of  Canary  tinto." 

"Just  so,"  Jake  replied.  "  Tinto' s  a  thin,  sour 
claret,  isn't  it  ?  In  New  York  not  long  ago  you  could 
get  iced  buttermilk.  Can't  say  I  was  fond  of  it,  but 
I  reckon  it's  as  exhilarating  as  the  other  stuff." 

Dick  left  him  with  some  misgivings  and  went  about 
his  business.  It  was  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening  and 
the  foundry  would  be  closed,  but  he  knew  where  the 
manager  lived  and  went  to  his  house,  which  was  sit- 
uated in  the  older  part  of  the  city.  He  had  not  taken 
Jake  because  he  had  to  pass  some  of  the  less  reputa- 
ble cafes  and  gambling  dens  and  thought  it  undesirable 
that  the  lad  should  know  where  they  were.  The 
foundry  manager  was  not  at  home,  but  a  languishing 
young  woman  with  a  thickly  powdered  face,  who 
called  her  mother  before  she  conferred  with  Dick,  told 
him  where  Don  Tomas  had  gone,  and  Dick  set  off 
again  in  search  of  the  cafe  she  named. 


JAKE  FULLER  93 

A  half  moon  hung  low  in  the  clear  sky,  but,  for 
the  most  part,  its  light  only  reached  a  short  distance 
down  the  white  and  yellow  fronts  of  the  flat-topped 
houses.  These  got  light  and  air  from  the  central 
courtyard,  or  patio,  and  the  outer  walls  were  only 
pierced  by  one  or  two  very  narrow  windows  at  some 
height  from  the  ground.  The  openings  were  marked 
here  and  there  by  a  faint  glow  from  within,  which 
was  often  broken  by  a  shadowy  female  form  leaning 
against  the  bars  and  speaking  softly  to  another  figure 
on  the  pavement  below. 

There  were  few  street  lamps,  and  in  places  the  houses 
crowded  in  upon  the  narrow  strip  of  gloom  through 
which  Dick  picked  his  way  with  echoing  steps.  Most 
of  the  citizens  were  in  the  plaza,  and  the  streets  were 
quiet  except  for  the  measured  beat  of  the  surf  and 
the  distant  music  of  the  band.  A  smell  of  rancid 
oil  and  garlic,  mingled  with  the  strong  perfumes  Span- 
ish women  use,  hung  about  the  buildings,  but  now 
and  then  a  puff  of  cooler  air  flowed  through  a  dark 
opening  and  brought  with  it  the  keen  freshness  of  the 
sea.  Once  the  melancholy  note  of  a  guitar  came  down 
from  a  roof  and  somebody  began  to  sing  in  a  voice 
that  quivered  with  fantastic  tremolos. 

Dick  went  carefully,  keeping  as  far  as  possible  away 
from  the  walls.  In  Santa  Brigida,  all  white  men  were 
supposed  to  be  rich,  and  the  honesty  of  the  darker 
part  of  its  mixed  population  was  open  to  doubt.  Be- 
sides, he  had  learned  that  the  fair-skinned  North- 
erners were  disliked.  They  brought  money,  which 
was  needed,  into  the  country,  but  they  also  brought 
machines  and  business  methods  that  threatened  to  dis- 
turb the  tranquillity   the  Latin   half-breed   enjoyed. 


94      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

The  latter  must  be  beaten  in  industrial  strife  and,  ex- 
changing independence  for  higher  wages,  become  sub- 
ject to  a  more  vigorous,  mercantile  race.  The  half- 
breeds  seemed  to  know  this,  and  regarded  the  for- 
eigners with  jealous  eyes.  For  all  that,  Dick  carried 
no  weapons.  A  pistol  large  enough  to  be  of  use  was 
an  awkward  thing  to  hide,  and  he  agreed  with  Bethune 
that  to  wear  it  ostentatiously  was  more  likely  to  pup- 
voke  than  avoid  attack. 

Once  he  thought  he  was  followed,  but  when  he 
stopped  to  look  round,  the  shadowy  figure  behind 
turned  into  a  side  street,  and  he  presently  found  the 
man  he  was  in  search  of  in  a  quiet  cafe.  He  spent 
some  time  explaining  the  drawings  of  the  patterns 
that  would  be  required  before  Don  Tomas  undertook 
to  make  the  castings,  and  then  languidly  leaned  back 
in  his  chair.  His  head  had  begun  to  ache  again  and 
he  feh  strangely  limp  and  tired.  The  fever  was  re- 
turning, as  it  did  at  night,  but  he  roused  himself  by 
and  by  and  set  off  to  visit  the  doctor. 

On  his  way  he  passed  the  casino  and,  to  his  sur- 
prise, saw  Jake  coming  down  the  steps.     Dick  frowned 

when  they  met.  , 

"  How  did  you  get  in?  "  he  asked.  It  s  the  rule 
for  somebody  to  put  your  name  down  on  your  tirst 

""''"^So  it  seemed,"  said  Jake.  ''  There  are  however, 
ways  of  getting  over  such  difficulties,  and  a  dollar 
goes  some  distance  in  this  country;  much  farther,  in 
fact,  than  it  does  in  ours." 

"It's  some  consolation  to  think  youve  had  to  pay 
for  your  amusement,"  Dick  answered  sourly. 

Jake  smiled.     "  On  the  contrary,  I  found  it  prohta- 


JAKE  FULLER  95 

ble.  You  make  a  mistake  that's  common  with  serious 
folks,  by  taking  it  for  granted  that  a  cheerful  charac- 
ter marks  a  fool."  He  put  his  hand  in  his  pocket  and 
brought  it  out  filled  with  silver  coin.  "  Say,  what  do 
you  think  of  this?  " 

"  Put  the  money  back,"  Dick  said  sharply,  for  there 
was  a  second-rate  wine-shop  not  far  off  and  a  group 
of  untidy  half-breeds  lounged  about  its  front.  Jake, 
however,  took  out  another  handful  of  silver. 

"  My  luck  was  pretty  good ;  I  reckon  it  says  some- 
thing for  me  that  I  knew  when  to  stop." 

He  jingled  the  money  as  he  passed  the  wine-shop, 
and  Dick,  looking  back,  thought  one  of  the  men  in- 
side got  up,  but  nobody  seemed  to  be  following  them 
when  they  turned  into  another  street.  This  was  the 
nearest  way  to  the  doctor's,  but  it  was  dark  and  nar- 
row, and  Dick  did  not  like  its  look. 

"  Keep  in  the  middle,"  he  warned  Jake. 

They  were  near  the  end  of  the  street  when  two  men 
came  out  of  an  arch  and  waited  for  them. 

"  Have  you  a  match,  sefior?  "  one  who  held  a  ciga- 
rette in  his  hand  asked. 

"  No,"  said  Dick  suspiciously.     "  Keep  back !  " 

"  But  it  is  only  a  match  we  want,"  said  the  other, 
and  Jake  stopped. 

"  What's  the  matter  with  giving  him  one  ?  Wait 
till  I  get  my  box." 

He  gave  it  to  the  fellow,  who  struck  a  match,  and 
after  lighting  his  cigarette  held  it  so  that  the  faint 
illumination  touched  Dick's  face. 

"  Thanks,  senor,"  said  the  half-breed,  who  turned 
to  his  companion  as  he  added  softly  in  Castilian: 
"  The  other." 


96      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

Dick  understood.     It  was  not  Jake  but  himself  who 
was  threatened ;  and  he  thought  he  knew  why. 

"  Look  out  for  that  fellow,  Jake !  "  he  cried.     "  Get 
back  to  the  wall !  " 

Jake,  to  Dick's  relief,  did  as  he  was  told,  but  next 
moment  another  man  ran  out  of  the  arch,  and  some- 
body in  the  darkness  called  out  in  Castilian.  Dick 
thought  he  knew  the  voice ;  but  the  men  were  behind 
him  now,  and  he  turned  to  face  them.  The  nearest 
had  his  hand  at  his  ragged  sash,  and  Dick  saw  that 
he  must  act  before  the  long  Spanish  knife  came  out. 
He  struck  hard,  leaning  forward  as  he  did  so,  and 
the  man  reeled  back;  but  the  other  two  closed  with 
him,  and  although  his  knuckles  jarred  as  a  second 
blow  got  home,  he  felt  a  stinging  pain  high  up  in 
his  side.  His  breathing  suddenly  got  difficult,  but 
as  he  staggered  towards  the  wall  he  saw  Jake  dash  his 
soft  hat  in  the  face  of  another  antagonist  and  spring 
upon  the  fellow.  There  seemed  to  be  four  men  round 
them  and  one  was  like  Oliva,  the  contractor;  but 
Dick's  sight  was  going  and  he  had  a  fit  of  coughing 
that  was  horribly  painful. 

He  heard  Jake  shout  and  footsteps  farther  up  the 
street,  and  tried  to  lean  against  the  house  for  support, 
but  slipped  and  fell  upon  the  pavement.  He  could 
neither  see  nor  hear  well,  but  made  out  that  his  as- 
sailants had  slunk  away  and  men  were  running  to- 
wards Jake,  who  stood,  calling  for  help,  in  the  middle 
of  the  street.  Shortly  afterwards  a  group  of  dark 
figures  gathered  round  and  he  heard  confused  voices. 
He  thought  Jake  knelt  down  and  tried  to  lift  him, 
but  this  brought  on  a  stab  of  burning  pain  and  he 
knew  nothing  more. 


CHAPTER  X 

LA   MIGNONNE 

A  COOL  sea  breeze  blew  through  the  half-opened 
lattice,  and  a  ray  of  sunshine  quivered  upon 
the  ocher-colored  wall,  when  Dick  awoke  from  a 
refreshing  sleep.  He  felt  helplessly  weak,  and  his 
side,  which  was  covered  by  a  stiff  bandage,  hurt  him 
when  he  moved,  but  his  head  was  clear  at  last  and  he 
languidly  looked  about.  The  room  was  spacious,  but 
rather  bare.  There  was  no  carpet,  but  a  rug  made 
a  blotch  of  cool  green  on  the  smooth,  dark  floor. 
Two  or  three  religious  pictures  hung  upon  the  wall 
and  he  noted  how  the  soft  blue  of  the  virgin's  dress 
harmonized  with  the  yellow  background.  An  arch 
at  one  end  was  covered  by  a  leather  curtain  like  those 
in  old  Spanish  churches,  but  it  had  been  partly  drawn 
back  to  let  the  air  circulate.  Outside  the  hooked- 
back  lattice  he  saw  the  rails  of  a  balcony,  and  across 
the  narrow  patio  a  purple  creeper  spread  about  a  daz- 
zling white  wall. 

All  this  was  vaguely  familiar,  because  it  was  some 
days  since  Dick  had  recovered  partial  consciousness, 
though  he  had  been  too  feeble  to  notice  his  surround- 
ings much  or  find  out  where  he  was.  Now  he  studied 
the  room  with  languid  interest  as  he  tried  to  remem- 
ber what  had  led  to  his  being  brought  there.  The 
scanty  furniture  was  dark  and  old;  and  he  knew  the 
wrinkled,  brown- faced  woman  in  black  who  sat  by  the 

97 


98      BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

window  with  a  dark  shawl  wound  round  her  head. 
She  had  a  place  in  his  confused  memories;  as  had 
another  woman  with  a  curious  lifeless  face  and  an  un- 
usual dress,  who  had  once  or  twice  hfted  him  and 
done  something  to  his  bandages.  Still,  it  was  not  of 
her  Dick  was  thinking.  There  had  been  somebody 
else,  brighter  and  fresher  than  either,  who  sat  beside 
him  when  he  lay  in  fevered  pain  and  sometimes  stole 
in  and  vanished  after  a  pitiful  glance. 

A  bunch  of  flowers  stood  upon  the  table ;  and  their 
scent  mingled  with  the  faint  smell  of  decay  that  hung 
about  the  room.  Lying  still,  Dick  heard  the  leather 
curtain  rustle  softly  in  the  draught,  muffled  sounds 
of  traffic,  and  the  drowsy  murmur  of  the  surf.  Its 
rhythmic  beat  was  soothing  and  he  thought  he  could 
smell  the  sea.  By  and  by  he  made  an  abrupt  move 
that  hurt  him  as  a  voice  floated  into  the  room.  It 
was  singularly  clear  and  sweet,  and  he  thought  he 
knew  it,  as  he  seemed  to  know  the  song,  but  could 
not  catch  the  words  and  the  singing  stopped.  Then 
light  footsteps  passed  the  arch  and  there  was  silence 
again. 

"  Who's  that?  "  he  asked  with  an  energy  he  had  not 
been  capable  of  until  then. 

''La  mignonne"  said  the  old  woman  with  a  smile 
that  showed  her  thick,  red  lips  and  firm  white  teeth. 

"And  who's  Mignonne?" 

"La,  la!"  said  the  woman  soothingly.  "  Cest  ma 
mignonne.     But  you  jess  go  to  sleep  again." 

"  How  can  I  go  to  sleep  when  I'm  not  sleepy  and 
you  won't  tell  me  what  I  want  to  know?"  Dick 
grumbled,  but  the  woman  raised  her  hand  and  began 
to  sing  an  old  plantation  song. 


LA  MIGNONNE  99 

"  I'm  not  a  child,"  he  protested  weakly.  "  But 
that's  rather  nice." 

Closing  his  eyes,  he  tried  to  think.  His  nurse  was 
not  a  Spanish  mulatto,  as  her  dark  dress  suggested. 
It  was  more  likely  that  she  came  from  Louisiana, 
where  the  old  French  stock  had  not  died  out;  but 
Dick  felt  puzzled.  She  had  spoken,  obviously  with 
affection,  of  ma  mignonne;  but  he  was  sure  the  singer 
was  no  child  of  hers.  There  was  no  Creole  accent 
in  that  clear  voice,  and  the  steps  he  heard  were  light. 
The  feet  that  had  passed  his  door  were  small  and 
arched;  not  flat  like  a  negro's.  He  had  seen  feet  of 
the  former  kind  slip  on  an  iron  staircase  and  brush, 
in  pretty  satin  shoes,  across  a  lawn  on  which  the  moon- 
light fell.  Besides,  a  girl  whose  skin  was  fair  and 
whose  movements  were  strangely  graceful  had  flitted 
about  his  room.  While  he  puzzled  over  this  he  went 
to  sleep  and  on  waking  saw  with  a  start  of  pleasure 
Jake  sitting  near  his  bed.     His  nurse  had  gone. 

"  Hullo !  "  he  said.  "  I'm  glad  you've  come.  There 
are  a  lot  of  things  I  want  to  know." 

"  The  trouble  is  I've  been  ordered  not  to  tell  you 
much.     It's  a  comfort  to  see  you  looking  brighter." 

"  I  feel  pretty  well.  But  can  you  tell  me  where  I 
am  and  how  I  got  there  ?  " 

"Certainly.  We'll  take  the  last  question  first. 
Somebody  tore  off  a  shutter  and  we  carried  you  on 
it.  I  guess  you  know  you  got  a  dago's  knife  between 
your  ribs." 

"  I  seem  to  remember  something  like  that,"  said 
Dick ;  who  added  with  awkward  gratitude :  "  I  be- 
lieve the  brutes  would  have  killed  me  if  you  hadn't 
been  there." 

"  It  was  a  pretty  near  thing.     Does  it  strike  you 


loo    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

as  curious  that  while  you  made  yourself  responsible 
for  me  I  had  to  take  care  of  you? " 

"  You  did  so,  anyhow,"  Dick  remarked  with  feel- 
ing.    *'  But  go  on." 

"  Somebody  brought  a  Spanish  doctor,  who  said  you 
couldn't  be  moved  much  and  must  be  taken  into  the 
nearest  house,  so  we  brought  you  here." 

"Where    is    'here'?     That's    what    I    want    to 

know  ?  " 

"  My  orders  are  not  to  let  you  talk.  We've  changed 
our  positions  now ;  you've  got  to  listen.  For  all  that, 
you  ought  to  be  thankful  you're  not  in  the  Santa 
Brigida  hospital,  which  was  too  far  away.  It's  three 
hundred  years  old  and  smells  older.  ^  Felt  as  if  you 
could  bake  bricks  in  it,  and  no  air  gets  in." 

"  But  what  were  you  doing  at  the  hospital?  " 
"  I  went  to  see  a  fellow  who  told  me  he'd  been  fired 
out  of  our  camp.  He  came  up  just  after  the  dago 
knifed  you,  and  knocked  out  the  man  I  was  grapplmg 
with,  but  got  an  ugly  stab  from  one  of  the  gang. 
We  didn't  find  this  out  until  we  had  disposed  of  you. 
However,  he's  nearly  all  right  and  they'll  let  him  out 

soon."  ^  , 

"Ah'"  said  Dick.  "That  must  be  Payne,  the 
storekeeper.     But,  you  see,  I  fired  him.     Why  did  he 

interfere?" 

"  I  don't  know.  He  said  somethmg  about  your  be- 
ing a  white  man  and  it  was  three  to  one." 

Dick  pondered  this  and  then  his  thoughts  resumed 
their  former  groove. 

"  Who's  the  mulatto  woman  in  black?  " 

"  She's  called  Lucille.  A  nice  old  thing,  and  seems 
to  have  looked  after  you  well.  When  I  came  in  she 
was  singing  you  to  sleep.     Voice  all  gone,  of  course, 


LA  MIGNONNE  loi 

but  I'd  like  to  write  down  the  song.  It  sounded  like 
the  genuine  article." 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  the  *  genuine  article  '  ?  " 

"  Well,  I  think  it  was  one  of  the  plantation  lulla- 
bies they  used  to  sing  before  the  war ;  not  the  imita- 
tion trash  fourth-rate  composers  turned  out  in  floods 
some  years  ago.  That,  of  course,  has  no  meaning, 
but  the  other  expressed  the  spirit  of  the  race.  Words 
quaint  coon-English  with  a  touch  of  real  feeling;  air 
something  after  the  style  of  a  camp-meeting  hymn, 
and  yet  somehow  African.  In  fact,  it's  unique  music, 
but  it's  good." 

"  Hadn't  I  another  nurse?"  Dick  asked. 

Jake  laughed.  "  I  ought  to  have  remembered  that 
you're  not  musical.  There  was  a  nursing  sister  of 
some  religious  order." 

"I  don't  mean  a  nun,"  Dick  persisted.  "A  girl 
came  in  now  and  then." 

"  It's  quite  possible.  Some  of  them  are  sympa- 
thetic and  some  are  curious.  No  doubt,  you  were  an 
interesting  patient ;  anyhow,  you  gave  the  Spanish  doc- 
tor plenty  trouble.  He  was  rather  anxious  for  a 
time;  the  fever  you  had  before  the  dago  stabbed  you 
complicated  things."  Jake  paused  and  looked  at  his 
watch.  "  Now  I've  got  to  quit.  I  had  orders  not  to 
stay  long,  but  I'll  come  back  soon  to  see  how  you're 
getting  on." 

Dick  let  him  go  and  lay  still,  thinking  drowsily. 
Jake  had  apparently  not  meant  to  answer  his  ques- 
tions. He  wanted  to  know  where  he  was  and  had 
not  been  told.  It  looked  as  if  his  comrade  had  been 
warned  not  to  enlighten  him;  but  there  was  no  rea- 
son for  this.  Above  all,  he  wanted  to  know  who  was 
the  girl  with  the  sweet  voice  and  light  step.    Jake, 


102    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

who  had  admitted  that  she  might  have  been  in  his 
room,  had,  no  doubt,  seen  her,  and  Dick  could  not 
understand  why  he  should  refuse  to  speak  of  her. 
While  he  puzzled  about  it  he  went  to  sleep  again. 

It  was  dark  when  he  awoke,  and  perhaps  he  was 
feverish  or  his  brain  was  weakened  by  illness,  for  it 
reproduced  past  scenes  that  were  mysteriously  con- 
nected with  the  present.  He  was  in  a  strange  house 
in  Santa  Brigida,  for  he  remarked  the  shadowy 
creeper  on  the  wall  and  a  pool  of  moonlight  on  the 
dark  floor  of  his  room.  Yet  the  cornfields  in  an 
English  valley,  through  which  he  drove  his  motor 
bicycle,  seemed  more  real,  and  he  could  see  the  rows 
of  stooked  sheaves  stretch  back  from  the  hedgerows 
he  sped  past.  Something  sinister  and  threatenmg 
awaited  him  at  the  end  of  the  journey,  but  he  could 
not  tell  what  it  was.  Then  the  cornfields  vanished 
and  he  was  crossing  a  quiet,  walled  garden  with  a 
girl  at  his  side.  He  remembered  how  the  moonlight 
shone  through  the  branches  of  a  tree  and  fell  in  silver 
splashes  on  her  white  dress.  Her  face  was  in  the 
shadow,  but  he  knew  it  well.  •    ■.      i 

After  a  time  he  felt  thirsty,  and  moving  his  head 
looked  feebly  about  the  room.  A  slender,  white  figure 
sat  near  the  wall,  and  he  started,  because  this  must  be 
the  girl  he  had  heard  singing. 

"I  wonder  if  you  could  get  me  something  to 
drink?"  he  said. 

The  girl  rose  and  he  watched  her  intently  as  she 
came  towards  him  with  a  glass.  When  she  entered 
the  moonlight  his  heart  gave  a  sudden  throb. 

"Clare,  Miss  Kenwardine!"  he  said,  and  awk- 
wardly raised  himself  on  his  arm. 

*'  Yes,"  she  said,  "  I  am  Clare  Kenwardine.     But 


LA  MIGNONNE  103 

drink  this;  then  I'll  put  the  pillows  straight  and  you 
must  keep  still." 

Dick  drained  the  glass  and  lay  down  again,  for  he 
was  weaker  than  he  thought. 

"  Thanks !  Don't  go  back  into  the  dark.  You 
have  been  here  all  the  time?     I  mean,  since  I  came." 

"  As  you  were  seldom  quite  conscious  until  this 
morning,  how  did  you  know  ?  " 

"  I  didn't  know,  in  a  way,  and  yet  I  did.  There  was 
somebody  about  who  made  me  think  of  England,  and 
then,  you  see,  I  heard  you  sing." 

"  Still,"  she  said,  smiling,  "  I  don't  quite  under- 
stand." 

"Don't  you?"  said  Dick,  who  felt  he  must  make 
things  plain.  "  Well,  you  stole  in  and  out  and  sat 
here  sometimes  when  Lucille  was  tired.  I  didn't  ex- 
actly notice  you  —  perhaps  I  was  too  ill  —  but  I  felt 
you  were  there,  and  that  was  comforting." 

"  And  yet  you  are  surprised  to  see  me  now !  " 

"  I  can't  have  explained  it  properly.  I  didn't  know 
you  were  Miss  Kenwardine;  but  I  felt  I  knew  you 
and  kept  trying  to  remember,  but  I  was  feverish  and 
my  mind  wouldn't  take  your  image  in.  For  all  that, 
something  told  me  it  was  really  there  already,  and 
I'd  be  able  to  recognize  it  if  I  waited.  It  was  like  a 
photograph  that  wasn't  developed." 

"  You're  feverish  now,"  Qare  answered  quietly. 
"  I  mustn't  let  you  talk  so  much." 

"  You're  as  bad  as  Jake ;  he  wouldn't  answer  my 
questions,"  Dick  grumbled.  "  Then,  you  see,  I  want 
to  talk." 

Clare  laughed,  as  if  she  found  it  a  relief  to  do  so. 
"  That  doesn't  matter  if  it  will  do  you  harm." 

"I'll    be   very   quiet,"    Dick   pleaded.     "I'll   only 


:i04    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

speak  a  word  or  two  now  and  then.     But  don't  go 

away! " 

Clare  sat  down,  and  after  a  few  minutes  Dick  re- 
sumed :  "  You  passed  my  door  to-day,  and  it's  curi- 
ous that  I  knew  your  step,  though,  if  you  can  under- 
stand, without  actually  recognizing  it.  It  was  as  if 
I  was  dreaming  something  that  was  real.  The  worst 
of  being  ill  is  that  your  brain  gets  working  independ- 
ently, bringing  things  up  on  its  own  account,  without 
your 'telling  it.  Anyhow,  I  remembered  the  iron  steps 
with  the  glow  of  the  window  through  the  curtain,  and 
how  you  slipped  — you  wore  Httle  white  shoes,  and 
the  moonlight  shone  through  the  branches  on  your 

dress.' 

He  broke  off  and  frowned,  for  a  vague,  unpleasant 
memory  obtruded  itself.  Something  that  had  had  dis- 
astrous consequences  had  happened  in  the  quiet  gar- 
den, but  he  could  not  remember  what  it  was. 

"Why  did  Lucille  call  you  ma  mignonne?"  he 
asked.     "Doesn't  it  mean  a  petted  child?" 

"Not  always.     She  was  my  nurse  when  I  was 

young."  ^, 

"  Then  you  have  lived  here  before? 

"  Not  here,  but  in  a  country  where  there  are  people 
like  Lucille,  though  it's  long  ago.  But  you  mustn't 
speak  another  word.     Go  to  sleep  at  once! "     ^^ 

"  Then  stay  where  I  can  see  you  and  I'll  try,  Dick 
answered;  and  although  he  did  not  mean  to  do  so, 
presently  closed  his  eyes.  j    u  . 

Clare  waited  until  his  quiet  breathing  showed  that 
he  was  asleep,  and  then  crossed  the  floor  softly  and 
stood  looking  down  on  him.  There  was  light  enough 
to  see  his  face  and  it  was  worn  and  thin.  His  weak- 
ness moved  her  to  pity,  but  there  was  something  else. 


LA  MIGNONNE  105 

He  had  remembered  that  night  in  England,  he  knew 
her  step  and  voice,  and  his  rambling  talk  had  caused 
her  a  thrill,  for  she  remembered  the  night  in  England 
well.  Brandon  had  shielded  her  from  a  man  whom 
she  had  good  ground  for  wishing  to  avoid.  He  had, 
no  doubt,  not  quite  understood  the  situation,  but 
had  seen  that  she  needed  help  and  chivalrously  offered 
it.  She  knew  he  could  be  trusted  and  had  without 
much  hesitation  made  her  unconventional  request. 
He  had  then  been  marked  by  strong  vitality  and  cheer- 
ful confidence,  but  he  was  ill  and  helpless  now,  and  his 
weakness  appealed  to  her  as  his  vigor  had  not  done. 
He  was,  in  a  way,  dependent  on  her,  and  Clare  felt 
glad  this  was  so.  She  blushed  as  she  smoothed  the 
coverlet  across  his  shoulders  and  then  quietly  stole 
away. 

There  was  no  sea  breeze  next  morning  and  the  sun 
shone  through  a  yellow  haze  that  seemed  to  intensify 
the  heat.  The  white  walls  reflected  a  curious  sub- 
dued light  that  was  more  trying  to  the  eyes  than  the 
usual  glare,  and  the  beat  of  the  surf  was  slow  and 
languid.  The  air  was  still  and  heavy,  and  Dick's 
fever,  which  had  been  abatihg,  recovered  force.  He 
was  hot  and  irritable,  and  his  restlessness  did  not  van- 
ish until  Clare  came  in  at  noon. 

"  I've  been  watching  for  you  since  daybreak,  and 
you  might  have  come  before,"  he  said.  "  Lucille 
means  well,  but  she's  clumsy.  She  doesn't  help  one 
to  be  quiet  as  you  do." 

"  You're  not  quiet,"  Clare  answered  in  a  reproving 
tone.  "Lucille  is  a  very  good  nurse;  better  than  I 
am. 

"Well,"  said  Dick  in  a  thoughtful  tone,  "perhaps 
she  is,  in  a  way.     She  never  upsets  the  medicine  on 


io6    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

my  pillow,  as  you  did  the  last  time.     The  nasty  stuff 
got  into  my  hair "  ^^ 

Clare  raised  her  hand  in  remonstrance.  You 
really  mustn't  talk." 

"I'm  going  to  talk,"  Dick  answered  defiantly. 
"  It's  bad  for  me  to  keep  puzzling  over  things,  and 
I  mean  to  get  them  straight.  Lucille's  very  patient, 
but  she  isn't  soothing  as  you  are.  It  rests  one's  eyes 
to  look  at  you,  but  that's  not  altogether  why  I  like 
you  about.  I  expect  it's  because  you  knew  I  hadn't 
stolen  those  plans  when  everybody  else  thought  I  had. 
But  then  why  did  I  tear  your  letter  up?  " 

Clare  made  an  abrupt  movement.  She  knew  he 
must  be  kept  quiet  and  his  brain  was  not  working 
normally,  but  his  statement  was  disturbing. 

"  You  tore  it  up  ?  "  she  asked,  with  some  color  m 

her  face.  . 

"  Yes,"  said  Dick  in  a  puzzled  voice,  I  tore  it  all 
to  bits.  '  There  was  a  reason,  though  I  can't  remember 
it.  In  fact,  I  can't  remember  anything  to-day.  But 
don't  go  off  if  I  shut  my  eyes  for  a  minute:  it  wouldn't 

be  fair."  ,  .      i.     j-j 

Clare  turned  her  head,  but  except  for  this  she  did 
not  move,  and  it  was  a  relief  when  after  a  few  dis- 
jointed remarks  his  voice  died  away.  She  was  moved 
to  pity,  but  for  a  few  moments  she  had  quivered  in 
the  grasp  of  another  emotion.  It  was  obvious  that 
Dick  did  not  altogether  know  what  he  was  saying,  but 
he  had  shown  her  plainly  the  place  she  had  in  his 
mind,  and  she  knew  she  would  not  like  to  lose  it. 

Half  an  hour  later  Lucille  came  in  quietly  and 
Clare  went  away. 


CHAPTER  XI 

CLARE  GETS   A   SHOCK 

FOR  a  week  the  stagnant  heat  brooded  over  Santa 
Brigida,  sucking  up  the  citizens'  energy  and  leav- 
ing hmp  depression.  Steaming  showers  that  broke 
at  intervals  filled  the  air  with  an  enervating  damp,  and 
the  nights  were  worse  than  the  days.  No  draught 
crept  through  the  slits  of  windows  into  the  darkened 
houses,  and  the  musty  smell  that  characterizes  old 
Spanish  cities  gathered  in  the  patios  and  sweltering 
rooms. 

This  reacted  upon  Dick,  who  had  a  bad  relapse, 
and  for  some  days  caused  his  nurses  grave  anxiety. 
There  was  sickness  in  the  town  and  the  doctor  could 
spare  but  little  time  to  him,  the  nursing  sister  was 
occupied,  and  Dick  was,  for  the  most  part,  left  to 
Clare  and  Lucille.  They  did  what  they  could;  the 
girl  with  pitiful  tenderness,  the  mulatto  woman  with 
patience  and  some  skill,  but  Dick  did  not  know  until 
afterwards  that,  in  a  measure,  he  owed  his  life  to  them. 
Youth,  however,  was  on  his  side,  the  delirium  left 
him,  and  after  lying  for  a  day  or  two  in  half -con- 
scious stupor,  he  came  back  to  his  senses,  weak  but 
with  unclouded  mind.  He  knew  he  was  getting  bet- 
ter and  his  recovery  would  not  be  long,  but  his  satis- 
faction was  marred  by  keen  bitterness.  Clare  had 
stolen  his  papers  and  ruined  him. 

107 


io8    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

Point  by  point  he  recalled  his  visit  to  Kenwardine's 
house,  trying  to  find  something  that  could  be  urged 
in  the  girl's  defense  and  when  he  failed  seeking  ex- 
cuses for  her;  but  her  guilt  was  obvious.  He  hated 
to  own  it,  but  the  proof  was  overwhelming.  She  knew 
the  power  of  her  beauty  and  had  treated  him  as  a 
confiding  fool.  He  was  not  revengeful  and  had  been 
a  fool,  but  it  hurt  him  badly  to  realize  that  she  was 
not  what  he  had  thought.  He  hardly  spoke  to  Lucille, 
who  came  in  now  and  then,  and  did  not  ask  for  Clare, 
as  he  had  hitherto  done.  The  girl  did  not  know  this 
because  she  was  taking  the  rest  she  needed  after  a 
week  of  strain. 

Jake  was  his  first  visitor  next  morning  and  Dick 
asked  for  a  cigarette. 

"  I'm  well  enough  to  do  what  I  like  again,"  he  said. 
"  I  expect  you  came  here  now  and  then." 

"I  did,  but  they  would  only  let  me  see  you  once. 
I  suppose  you  know  you  were  very  ill  ?  " 

"Yes;  I  feel  like  that.  But  I  dare  say  you  saw 
Kenwardine.     It  looks  as  if  this  is  his  house." 

"  It  is.  We  brought  you  here  because  it's  near  the 
street  where  you  got  stabbed." 

Dick  said  nothing  for  a  minute,  and  then  asked: 
"What's  Kenwardine  doing  in  Santa  Brigida?" 

"It's  hard  to  say.  Like  other  foreigners  in  the 
town,  he's  probably  here  for  what  he  can  get ;  looking 
for  concessions  or  a  trading  monopoly  of  some  kind." 

"Ah!"  said  Dick.  "I'm  not  sure.  But  do  you 
like  him?" 

"Yes.  He  strikes  me  as  a  bit  of  an  adventurer, 
but  so  are  the  rest  of  them,  and  he's  none  the  worse 


CLARE  GETS  A  SHOCK  109 

for  that.  Trying  to  get  ahead  of  dago  politicians  is 
a  risky  job." 

"  Is  he  running  this  place  as  a  gambling  house  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  Jake  warmly;  "  that's  much  too  strong. 
There  is  some  card  play  evenings,  and  I've  lost  a  few 
dollars  myself,  but  the  stakes  are  moderate  and  any- 
thing he  makes  on  the  bank  wouldn't  be  worth  while. 
He  enjoys  a  game,  that's  all.  So  do  other  people; 
we're  not  all  like  you." 

"  Did  you  see  Miss  Kenwardine  when  you  came 
for  a  game  ?  " 

"  I  did,  but  I  want  to  point  out  that  I  came  to  see 
you.  She  walked  through  the  patio,  where  we  gen- 
erally sat,  and  spoke  to  us  pleasantly,  but  seldom 
stopped  more  than  a  minute.  A  matter  of  politeness, 
I  imagine,  and  no  doubt  she'd  sooner  have  stayed 
away." 

"  Kenwardine  ought  to  keep  her  away.  One  won- 
ders why  he  brought  the  girl  to  a  place  like  this." 

Jake  frowned  thoughtfully.  "  Perhaps  your  re- 
mark is  justified,  in  a  sense,  but  you  mustn't  carry 
the  idea  too  far.  He's  not  using  his  daughter  as  an 
attraction;  it's  unthinkable." 

"  That  is  so,"  agreed  Dick, 

"  Well,"  said  Jake,  "  I  allow  that  our  talking  about 
it  is  in  pretty  bad  taste,  but  my  view  is  this :  Some- 
how, I  don't  think  Kenwardine  has  much  money  and 
he  may  feel  he  has  to  give  the  girl  a  chance." 

"To  marry  some  gambling  rake?" 

"  No,"  said  Jake  sharply.  "  It  doesn't  follow  that 
a  man  is  trash  because  he  stakes  a  dollar  or  two  now 
and  then,  and  there  are  some  pretty  straight  fellows 


no    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

in  Santa  Brigida."  Then  he  paused  and  grinned. 
"Take  yourself,  for  example;  you've  talent  enough 
to  carry  you  some  way,  and  I'm  open  to  allow  you're 
about  as  sober  as  a  man  could  be." 

"As  it  happens,  I'm  not  eligible,"  Dick  rejoined 
with  a  touch  of  grimness.  "  Kenwardine  wouldn't 
think  me  worth  powder  and  shot,  and  I've  a  disad- 
vantage you  don't  know  of  yet." 

"Anyhow,  it  strikes  me  you're  taking  a  rather 
strange  line.  Kenwardine  let  us  bring  you  here  when 
you  were  badly  hurt,  and  Miss  Kenwardine  has  given 
herself  a  good  deal  of  trouble  about  you.  In  fact,  I 
guess  you  owe  it  to  her  that  you're  recovering." 

"That's  true,  I  think,"  said  Dick.  "I  can't  re- 
member much  about  my  illness,  but  I've  a  notion  that 
she  took  very  good  care  of  me.  Still,  there's  no  rea- 
son I  should  give  her  further  trouble  when  I'm  getting 
better,  and  I  want  you  to  make  arrangements  for 
carrying  me  back  to  the  dam.  Perhaps  a  hammock 
would  be  the  best  plan." 

"  You're  not  fit  to  be  moved  yet." 
"  I'm  going,  anyhow,"  Dick  replied  with  quiet  reso- 
lution. 

After  trvnng  in  vain  to  persuade  him,  Jake  went 
away,  and  soon  afterwards  Kenwardine  came  in.  The 
light  was  strong  and  Dick  noted  the  touches  of  gray 
in  his  short,  dark  hair,  but  except  for  this  he  looked 
young  and  athletic.  His  figure  was  graceful,  his  dress 
picturesque,  for  he  wore  white  duck  with  a  colored  silk 
shirt  and  red  sash,  and  he  had  an  easy,  good-humored 
manner.  Sitting  down  close  by,  he  gave  Dick  a 
friendly  smile. 


CLARE  GETS  A  SHOCK  in 

"  I'm  glad  to  find  you  looking  better,  but  am  sur- 
prised to  hear  you  think  of  leaving  us,"  he  said. 

"  My  work  must  be  falling  behind  and  Stuyvesant 
has  nobody  to  put  in  my  place." 

"  He  sent  word  that  they  were  getting  on  all  right," 
Kenwardine  remarked. 

"  I'm  afraid  he  was  overstating  it  with  a  good  mo- 
tive. Then,  you  see,  I  have  given  you  and  Miss  Ken- 
wardine a  good  deal  of  trouble  and  can't  take  advan- 
tage of  your  kindness  any  longer.  It  would  be  an 
unfair  advantage,  because  I'm  getting  well.  Of  course 
I'm  very  grateful,  particularly  as  I  have  no  claim  on 
you." 

"  That  is  a  point  you  can  hardly  urge.  You  are 
a  countryman,  and  your  cousin  is  a  friend  of  mine.  I 
think  on  that  ground  we  are  justified  in  regarding  you 
as  an  acquaintance." 

Dick  was  silent  for  a  few  moments.  He  felt  that 
had  things  been  different  he  would  have  liked  Ken- 
wardine. The  man  had  charm  and  had  placed  him 
under  a  heavy  obligation.  Dick  admitted  this  frankly, 
but  could  not  stay  any  longer  in  his  house.  He  had, 
however,  a  better  reason  for  going  than  his  dislike  to 
accepting  Kenwardine's  hospitality.  Clare  had  robbed 
him  and  he  must  get  away  before  he  thought  of  her 
too  much.  It  was  an  awkward  situation  and  he  feared 
he  had  not  tact  enough  to  deal  with  it. 

"  The  truth  is,  I've  no  wish  to  renew  my  acquaint- 
ance with  people  I  met  in  England,  and  I  went  to 
America  in  order  to  avoid  doing  so,"  he  said.  "  You 
know  what  happened  before  I  left." 

"Yes;  but  I  think  you  are  exaggerating  its  im- 


112    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

portance.  After  all,  you're  not  the  only  man  who  has, 
through  nothing  worse  than  carelessness,  had  a  black 
mark  put  against  his  name.  You  may  have  a  chance 
yet  of  showing  that  the  thing  was  a  mistake." 

"  Then  I  must  wait  until  the  chance  comes,"  Dick 
answered  firmly. 

"  Very  well,"  said  Kenwardine.  "  Since  this  means 
you're  determined  to  go,  we  must  try  to  make  it  as 
easy  as  possible  for  you.  I'll  see  the  doctor  and  Mr. 
Fuller." 

He  went  out,  and  by  and  by  Clare  came  in  and  noted 
a  difference  in  Dick.  He  had  generally  greeted  her 
as  eagerly  as  his  weakness  allowed,  and  showed  his 
dependence  on  her,  but  now  his  face  was  hard  and 
resolute.     The  change  was  puzzling  and  disturbing. 

"  My  father  tells  me  you  want  to  go  away,"  she 
remarked. 

"  I  don't  want  to,  but  I  must,"  Dick  answered  with 
a  candor  he  had  not  meant  to  show.  "  You  see,  things 
I  ought  to  be  looking  after  will  all  go  wrong  at  the 
dam." 

"  Isn't  that  rather  egotistical  ?  "  Clare  asked  with 
a  forced  smile.  "I  have  seen  Mr.  Bethune,  who 
doesn't  look  overworked  and  probably  doesn't  mind 
the  extra  duty.     In  fact,  he  said  so." 

"  People  sometimes  say  such  things,  but  when  they 
have  to  do  a  good  deal  more  than  usual  they  mind 
very  much.  Anyhow,  it  isn't  fair  to  ask  them,  and 
that's  one  reason  for  my  going  away." 

Clare  colored  and  her  eyes  began  to  sparkle.  "  Do 
you  think  we  mind  ?  " 

"  I  don't,"  Dick  answered  awkwardly,  feeling  that 
he  was  not  getting  on  very  well.     "  I  know  how  kind 


CLARE  GETS  A  SHOCK  113 

you  are  and  that  you  wouldn't  shirk  any  trouble.     But 

still " 

"  Suppose  we  don't  think  it  a  trouble  ?  " 
Dick  knitted  his  brows.  It  was  hard  to  believe  that 
the  girl  who  sat  watching  him  with  a  puzzled  look 
was  an  adventuress.  He  had  made  her  blush,  and 
had  come  near  to  making  her  angry,  while  an  ad- 
venturess would  not  have  shown  her  feelings  so  easily. 
The  light  that  shone  through  the  window  touched  her 
face,  and  he  noted  its  delicate  modeling,  the  purity  of 
her  skin,  and  the  softness  of  her  eyes.  The  sparkle 
had  gone,  and  they  were  pitiful.  Clare  had  forgiven 
his  ingratitude  because  he  was  ill. 

"  Well,"  he  said,  "  what  you  think  doesn't  alter  the 
fact  that  I  have  given  you  trouble  and  kept  you  awake 
looking  after  me  at  night.  I  wasn't  always  quite 
sensible,  but  I  remember  how  often  you  sat  here  and 
brought  me  cool  things  to  drink.  Indeed,  I  expect 
you  helped  to  save  my  life."  He  paused  and  resumed 
in  a  voice  that  thrilled  with  feeling :  "  This  wasn't 
all  you  did.  When  I  was  having  a  very  bad  time  be- 
fore I  left  England  and  everybody  believed  the  worst, 
you  sent  me  a  letter  saying  that  you  knew  I  was  inno- 
cent." 

"You  told  me  you  tore  up  the  letter,"  Clare  re- 
marked quietly. 

Dick's  face  got  red.  He  had  not  taken  the  line 
he  meant  to  take  and  was  obviously  making  a  mess 
of  things. 

"  Are  you  sure  I  wasn't  delirious  ?  " 
"  I  don't  think  so.     Did  you  tear  up  the  letter  ?  " 
He  gave  her  a  steady  look,  for  he  saw  that  he  must 
nerve  himself  to  face  the  situation.     It  was  unfor- 


114    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

tunate  that  he  was  too  ill  to  deal  with  it  properly,  but 
he  must  do  the  best  he  could. 

"  I'll  answer  that  if  you'll  tell  me  how  you  knew 
I  was  innocent." 

Clare  looked  puzzled,  as  if  his  manner  had  jarred; 
and  Dick  saw  that  she  was  not  acting.  Her  surprise 
was  real.  He  could  not  understand  this,  but  felt 
ashamed  of  himself. 

"  In  a  sense,  of  course,  I  didn't  know,"  she  an- 
swered with  a  touch  of  embarrassment.  "  Still,  I 
felt  you  didn't  steal  the  plans.  It  seemed  impossible." 
"Thank  you,"  said  Dick,  who  was  silent  for  the 
next  few  moments.  He  thought  candor  was  needed 
and  had  meant  to  be  frank,  but  he  could  not  wound 
the  girl  who  had  taken  care  of  him. 

"Anyhow,  I  lost  the  papers  and  that  was  almost 
as  bad,"  he  resumed  feebly.  "When  you  get  into 
trouble  people  don't  care  much  whether  you're  a  rogue 
or  a  fool.  You're  in  disgrace  and  that's  all  that  mat- 
ters. However,  I  mustn't  bore  you  with  my  grum- 
bling. I'm  getting  better  and  they  want  me  at  the 
dam." 

"  Then  I  suppose  you  must  go  as  soon  as  you  are 
able,"  Clare  agreed,  and  began  to  talk  about  some- 
thing else. 

She  left  him  soon  and  Dick  lay  still,  frowning.  It 
had  been  a  trying  interview  and  he  doubted  if  he  had 
come  through  it  well,  but  hoped  Clare  would  make 
allowances  for  his  being  ill.  He  did  not  want  her  to 
think  him  ungrateful,  and  had  certainly  no  wish  to 
punish  her  for  what  had  happened  in  the  past.  But 
she  had  stolen  his  papers  and  he  must  get  away. 
He  was  taken  away  next  morning,  with  the  consent 


CLARE  GETS  A  SHOCK  115 

of  the  doctor,  who  agreed  that  the  air  would  be  more 
invigorating  on  the  hill.  Clare  did  not  come  down 
to  see  him  off  and  Dick  felt  strangely  disappointed, 
although  she  had  wished  him  a  quick  recovery  on  the 
previous  evening.  Kenwardine,  however,  helped  him 
into  his  hammock  and  after  the  carriers  started  went 
back  to  the  room  where  Clare  sat.  He  noted  that 
although  the  sun  was  hot  the  shutter  was  not  drawn 
across  the  window,  which  commanded  the  street. 

"  Well,"  he  said,  "  Mr.  Brandon  has  gone  and  on 
the  whole  that's  a  relief." 

"  Do  you  know  why  he  went  so  soon?  "  Clare  asked. 

Kenwardine  sat  down  and  looked  at  her  thought- 
fully. He  was  fond  of  Clare,  though  he  found  her 
something  of  an  embarrassment  now  and  then.  He 
was  not  rich  and  ran  certain  risks  that  made  his  ability 
to  provide  for  her  doubtful,  while  she  had  no  marked 
talents  to  fall  back  upon  if  things  went  against  him. 
There  was,  however,  the  possibility  that  her  beauty 
might  enable  her  to  make  a  good  marriage,  and  al- 
though Kenwardine  could  not  do  much  at  present  to 
forward  this  plan  he  must  try  to  prevent  any  unde- 
sirable entanglement.  Brandon,  for  example,  was  not 
to  be  thought  of,  but  he  suspected  Clare  of  some  lik- 
ing for  the  young  man. 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  "  I  know  and  sympathize  with  him. 
In  fact,  I  quite  see  why  he  found  it  difficult  to  stay. 
The  situation  was  only  tolerable  while  he  was  very 
ill." 

"Why?" 

Kenwardine  meant  to  tell  her.  It  was  better  that 
she  should  smart  a  little  now  than  suffer  worse  after- 
wards. 


ii6    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

"  As  soon  as  he  began  to  get  better  Brandon  re- 
membered that  we  were  the  cause  of  his  misfortunes. 
You  can  see  how  this  comphcated  things." 

"  But  we  had  nothing  to  do  with  them,"  Clare  said 
sharply.     "  What  made  him  think  we  had?  " 

"  It's  not  an  illogical  conclusion  when  he  imagines 
that  he  lost  his  papers  in  our  house." 

Clare  got  up  with  a  red  flush  in  her  face  and  her 
eyes  sparkling.  "  It's  absurd !  "  she  exclaimed.  "  He 
must  have  been  delirious  when  he  said  so." 

"  He  didn't  say  so  in  as  many  words ;  Brandon  has 
some  taste.  But  he  was  perfectly  sensible  and  in- 
tended me  to  see  what  he  meant." 

The  girl  stood  still,  trembling  with  anger  and  con- 
fusion, and  Kenwardine  felt  sorry  for  her.  She  was 
worse  hurt  than  he  had  expected,  but  she  would  rally. 

"  But  he  couldn't  have  been  robbed  while  he  was 
with  us,"  she  said  with  an  effort,  trying  to  understand 
Dick's  point  of  view.  "He  hadn't  an  overcoat,  so 
the  plans  must  have  been  in  the  pocket  of  his  uniform, 
and  nobody  except  myself  was  near  him." 

She  stopped  with  a  gasp  as  she  remembered  how 
she  had  slipped  and  seized  Dick.  In  doing  so  her 
hand  had  caught  his  pocket.  Everything  was  plain 
now,  and  for  a  few  moments  she  felt  overwhelmed. 
Her  face  blanched,  but  her  eyes  were  hard  and  very 
bright. 

Kenwardine  left  her,  feeling  that  Brandon  would 
have  cause  to  regret  his  rashness  if  he  ever  attempted 
to  renew  her  acquaintance,  and  Clare  sat  down  and 
tried  to  conquer  her  anger.  This  was  difficult,  be- 
cause she  had  received  an  intolerable  insult.  Bran- 
don thought  her  a  thief !     It  was  plain  that  he  did  so. 


CLARE  GETS  A  SHOCK  117 

because  the  change  in  his  manner  bore  out  all  her 
father  had  said,  and  there  was  na  other  explanation. 
Then  she  blushed  with  shame  as  she  realized  that 
from  his  point  of  view  her  unconventional  behavior 
warranted  his  suspicions.  She  had  asked  him  to  come 
into  the  garden  and  had  written  him  a  note!  This 
was  horribly  foolish  and  she  must  pay  for  it,  but  she 
had  been  mistaken  about  his  character. 

She  had,  as  a  rule,  avoided  the  men  she  met  at  her 
father's  house  and  had  shrunk  with  frank  repugnance 
from  one  or  two,  but  Brandon  had  seemed  different. 
Then  he  had  watched  for  her  when  he  was  ill  and 
she  had  seen  his  heavy  eyes  get  brighter  when  she 
came  into  the  room.  Now,  however,  she  understood 
him  better.  She  had  some  beauty  and  he  had  been 
satisfied  with  her  physical  attractiveness,  although  he 
thought  her  a  thief.  This  was  worse  than  the  coarse 
admiration  of  the  men  she  had  feared.  It  was  un- 
thinkably  humiliating,  but  her  anger  helped  her  to  bear 
the  blow.  After  all,  she  was  fortunate  in  finding  out 
what  Brandon  was,  since  it  might  have  been  worse 
had  the  knowledge  come  later.  There  was  a  sting  in 
this  that  rankled,  but  she  could  banish  him  from  her 
thoughts  now. 


CHAPTER  XII 

DICK    KEEPS    HIS    PROMISE 

TWINKLING  points  of  light  that  pierced  the 
darkness  lower  down  the  hill  marked  the  col- 
ored laborers'  camp,  and  voices  came  up  faintly- 
through  the  still  air.  The  range  cut  off  the  land 
breeze,  though  now  and  then  a  wandering  draught 
flickered  down  the  hollow  spanned  by  the  dam,  and 
a  smell  of  hot  earth  and  damp  jungle  hung  about  the 
veranda  of  Dick's  iron  shack.  He  sat  near  a  lamp, 
with  a  drawing-board  on  his  knee,  while  Jake  lounged 
in  a  canvas  chair,  smoking  and  occasionally  glancing 
at  the  sheet  of  figures  in  his  hand.  His  expression 
was  gloomily  resigned. 

"  I  suppose  you'll  have  things  ready  for  us  in  the 
morning,"  Dick  said  presently. 

"  Frangois'  accounts  are  checked  and  I'm  surprised 
to  find  them  right,  but  I  imagine  the  other  calculations 
will  not  be  finished.  Anyhow,  it  won't  make  much 
difference  whether  they  are  or  not.  I  guess  you  know 
that!" 

"Well,  of  course,  if  you  can't  manage  to  do  the 
lot " 

"  I  don't  say  it's  impossible,"  Jake  rejoined.  "  But 
beginning  work  before  breakfast  is  bad  enough,  with- 
out going  on  after  dinner.  Understand  that  I  don't 
question  your  authority  to  find  me  a  job  at  night;  it's 

your  object  that  makes  me  kick." 

ii8 


DICK  KEEPS  HIS  PROMISE         119 

"  We  want  the  calculations  made  before  we  set  the 
boys  to  dig." 

"  Then  why  didn't  you  give  me  them  when  I  was 
doing  nothing  this  afternoon?"  Jake  inquired. 

"  I  hadn't  got  the  plans  ready." 

"Just  so.  You  haven't  had  things  ready  for  me 
until  after  dinner  all  this  week.  As  you're  a  methodi- 
cal fellow  that's  rather  strange.  Still,  if  you  really 
want  the  job  finished,  I'll  have  to  do  my  best,  but 
I'm  going  out  first  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour." 

"You  needn't,"  Dick  said  dryly.  "If  you  mean 
to  tell  the  engineer  not  to  wait,  he's  gone.  I  sent  him 
off  some  time  since." 

"Of  course  you  had  a  right  to  send  him  off,"  Jake 
replied  in  an  injured  tone.  "  But  I  don't  quite 
think " 

"  You  know  what  your  father  pays  for  coal.  Have 
you  reckoned  what  it  costs  to  keep  a  locomotive  two 
or  three  hours  for  the  purpose  of  taking  you  to  Santa 
Brigida  and  back?" 

"  I  haven't,  but  I  expect  the  old  man  wouldn't  stand 
for  my  running  a  private  car,"  Jake  admitted.  "  How- 
ever, it's  the  only  way  of  getting  into  town." 

"  You  were  there  three  nights  last  week.  What's 
more,  you  tried  to  draw  your  next  month's  wages. 
That  struck  me  as  significant,  though  I'd  fortimately 
provided  against  it." 

"  So  I  found  out.  I  suppose  I  ought  to  be  grateful 
for  your  thought  fulness  but  can't  say  I  am.  I  wanted 
the  money  because  I  had  a  run  of  wretched  luck." 

"At  the  casino?" 

"  No,"  said  Jake,  shortly. 

"  Then  you  were  at  Kenwardine's ;  I'll  own  that's 


120    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

what  I  wanted  to  prevent.     He's  a  dangerous  man 
and  his  house  is  no  place  for  you." 

"  One  would  hardly  expect  you  to  speak  against 
him.  Considering  everything,  it's  perhaps  not  quite 
in  good  taste." 

Dick  put  down  the  drawing-board  and  looked  at 
him  steadily.  "  It's  very  bad  taste.  In  fact,  I  find 
myself  in  a  very  awkward  situation.  Your  father 
gave  me  a  fresh  start  when  I  needed  it  badly,  and 
agreed  when  your  sister  put  you  in  my  charge." 

"  Ida's  sometimes  a  bit  officious,"  Jake  remarked. 

"  Well,"  Dick  continued,  "  I  promised  to  look  after 
you,  and  although  I  didn't  know  what  I  was  under- 
taking, the  promise  must  be  kept.  It's  true  that  Ken- 
wardine  afterwards  did  me  a  great  service;  but  his 
placing  me  under  an  obligation  doesn't  relieve  me 
from  the  other,  which  I'd  incurred  first." 

Somewhat  to  his  surprise,  Jake  nodded  agreement. 
"  No,  not  from  your  point  of  view.  But  what  makes 
you  think  Kenwardine  is  dangerous?  " 

"  I  can't  answer.  You  had  better  take  it  for  granted 
that  I  know  what  I'm  talking  about,  and  keep  away 
from  him." 

"  As  a  matter  of  fact,  it  was  Miss  Kenwardine  to 
whom  you  owed  most,"  Jake  said  meaningly.  "  Do 
you  suggest  that  she's  dangerous,  too  ?  " 

Dick  frowned  and  his  face  got  red,  but  he  said 
nothing,  and  Jake  resumed:  "There's  a  mystery 
about  the  matter  and  you  know  more  than  you  intend 
to  tell ;  but  if  you  blame  the  girl  for  anything,  you're 
absolutely  wrong.  If  you'll  wait  a  minute,  I'll  show 
you  what  I  mean." 

He  went  into  the  shack  and  came  back  with  a  draw- 


DICK  KEEPS  HIS  PROMISE         121 

ing-block  which  he  stood  upon  the  table  under  the 
lamp,  and  Dick  saw  that  it  was  a  water-color  portrait 
of  Clare  Kenwardine.  He  did  not  know  much  about 
pictures,  but  it  was  obvious  that  Jake  had  talent.  The 
girl  stood  in  the  patio,  with  a  pale-yellow  wall  behind 
her,  over  which  a  vivid  purple  creeper  trailed.  Her 
lilac  dress  showed  the  graceful  lines  of  her  slender 
figure  against  the  harmonious  background,  and 
matched  the  soft  blue  of  her  eyes  and  the  delicate 
white  and  pink  of  her  skin.  The  patio  was  flooded 
with  strong  sunlight,  but  the  girl  looked  strangely 
fresh  and  cool. 

"  I  didn't  mean  to  show  you  this,  but  it's  the  best 
way  of  explaining  what  I  think,"  Jake  said  with  some 
diffidence,  "  I'm  weak  in  technique,  because  I  haven't 
been  taught,  but  I  imagine  I've  got  sensibility.  It's 
plain  that  when  you  paint  a  portrait  you  must  study 
form  and  color,  but  there's  something  else  that  you  can 
only  feel.  I  don't  mean  the  character  that's  expressed 
by  the  mouth  and  eyes ;  it's  something  vague  and  elu- 
sive that  psychologists  give  you  a  hint  of  when  they 
talk  about  the  aura.  Of  course  you  can't  paint  it,  but 
unless  it,  so  to  speak,  glimmers  through  the  work,  your 
portrait's  dead." 

"  I  don't  quite  understand ;  but  sometimes  things 
do  give  you  an  impression  you  can't  analyze,"  Dick 
replied. 

"  Well,  allowing  for  poor  workmanship,  all  you  see 
here's  harmonious.  The  blues  and  purples  and  yel- 
lows tone,  and  yet,  if  I've  got  the  hot  glare  of  the  sun 
right,  you  feel  that  the  figure's  exotic  and  doesn't  be- 
long to  the  scene.  The  latter  really  needs  an  olive- 
skinned  daughter  of  the  passionate  South;  but  the 


122    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

girl  I've  painted  ought  to  walk  in  the  moonlight  through 
cool  forest  glades." 

Dick  studied  the  picture  silently,  for  he  remembered 
with  disturbing  emotion  that  he  had  felt  what  Jake 
suggested  when  he  first  met  Clare  Kenwardine.  She 
was  frank,  but  somehow  remote  and  aloof;  marked 
by  a  strange  refinement  he  could  find  no  name  for. 
He  was  glad  that  Jake  did  not  seem  to  expect  him  to 
speak,  but  after  a  few  moments  the  latter  wrapped 
up  the  portrait  and  took  it  away.  When  he  came  back 
he  lighted  a  cigarette. 

"  Now,"  he  said,  "  do  you  think  it's  sensible  to  dis- 
trust a  girl  like  that?  Admitting  that  her  father 
makes  a  few  dollars  by  gambling,  can  you  believe  that 
living  with  him  throws  any  taint  on  her?  " 

Dick  hesitated.  Clare  had  stolen  his  papers.  This 
seemed  impossible,  but  it  was  true.  Yet  when  he 
looked  up  he  answered  as  his  heart  urged  him : 

"  No.     It  sounds  absurd." 

"  It  is  absurd,"  Jake  said  firmly. 

Neither  spoke  for  the  next  minute,  and  then  Dick 
frowned  at  a  disturbing  thought.  Could  the  lad  un- 
derstand Clare  so  well  unless  he  loved  her? 

"  That  picture  must  have  taken  some  time  to  paint. 
Did  Miss  Kenwardine  often  pose  for  you  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  Jake,  rather  dryly ;  "  in  fact,  she  didn't 
really  pose  at  all.  I  had  trouble  to  get  permission  to 
make  one  or  two  quick  sketches,  and  worked  up  the 
rest  from  memory." 

"  Yet  she  let  you  sketch  her.  It  was  something  of 
a  privilege." 

Jake  smiled  in  a  curious  way.  "  I  think  I  see  what 
you  mean.  Miss  Kenwardine  likes  me,  but  although 
I've  some  artistic  taste,  I'm  frankly  flesh  and  blood; 


DICK  KEEPS  HIS  PROMISE         123 

and  that's  not  quite  her  style.  She  finds  me  a  little 
more  in  harmony  with  her  than  the  rest,  but  this  is 
all.  Still,  it's  something  to  me.  Now  you  under- 
stand matters,  perhaps  you  won't  take  so  much  trouble 
to  keep  me  out  of  Santa  Brigida." 

"  I'll  do  my  best  to  keep  you  away  from  Kenwar- 
dine,"  Dick  declared. 

"  Very  well,"  Jake  answered  with  a  grin.  "  You're 
quite  a  good  sort,  though  you're  not  always  very 
smart,  and  I  can't  blame  you  for  doing  what  you  think 
is  your  duty." 

Then  he  set  to  work  on  his  calculations  and  there 
was  silence  on  the  veranda. 

Dick  kept  him  occupied  for  the  next  week,  and  then 
prudently  decided  not  to  press  the  lad  too  hard  by 
finding  him  work  that  obviously  need  not  be  done. 
If  he  was  to  preserve  his  power,  it  must  be  used  with 
caution.  The  first  evening  Jake  was  free  he  started 
for  Santa  Brigida,  though  as  there  was  no  longer  a 
locomotive  available,  he  got  two  laborers  to  take  him 
down  the  line  on  a  hand-car.  After  that  he  had  some 
distance  to  walk  and  arrived  at  Kenwardine's  pow- 
dered with  dust.  It  was  a  hot  night  and  he  found 
Kenwardine  and  three  or  four  others  in  the  patio. 

A  small,  shaded  lamp  stood  upon  the  table  they 
had  gathered  round,  and  the  light  sparkled  on  delicate 
green  glasses  and  a  carafe  of  wine.  It  touched  the 
men's  white  clothes,  and  then,  cut  off  by  the  shade, 
left  their  faces  in  shadow  and  fell  upon  the  tiles.  A 
colored  paper  lantern,  however,  hung  from  a  wire  near 
an  outside  staircase  and  Jake  saw  Clare  a  short  dis- 
tance away.  It  looked  as  if  she  had  stopped  in  cross- 
mg  the  patio,  but  as  he  came  forward  Kenwardine 
got  up. 


124    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

"It's  some  time  since  we  have  seen  you,"  he  re- 
marked. 

"  Yes,"  said  Jake.  "  I  meant  to  come  before,  but 
couldn't  get  away." 

"  Then  you  have  begun  to  take  your  business  seri- 
ously?" 

"  My  guardian  does." 

"Ah!"  said  Kenwardine,  speaking  rather  louder, 
"  if  you  mean  Mr.  Brandon,  I  certainly  thought  him 
a  serious  person.  But  what  has  this  to  do  with  your 
coming  here?" 

"  He  found  me  work  that  kept  me  busy  evenings." 

"  With  the  object  of  keeping  you  out  of  mischief?  " 

"  I  imagine  he  meant  something  of  the  kind,"  Jake 
admitted  with  a  chuckle.  He  glanced  round,  and  felt 
he  had  been  too  frank,  as  his  eyes  rested  on  Clare. 
He  could  not  see  her  face,  but  thought  she  was  listen- 
ing. 

"  Then  it  looks  as  if  he  believed  we  were  dangerous 
people  for  you  to  associate  with,"  Kenwardine  re- 
marked, with  a  smile.  "Well,  I  suppose  we're  not 
remarkable  for  the  conventional  virtues." 

Jake,  remembering  Dick  had  insisted  that  Ken- 
wardine was  dangerous,  felt  embarrassed  as  he  noted 
that  Clare  was  now  looking  at  him.  To  make  things 
worse,  he  thought  Kenwardine  had  meant  her  to  hear. 

"  I  expect  he  really  was  afraid  of  my  going  to  the 
casino,"  he  answered  as  carelessly  as  he  could. 

"Though  he  would  not  be  much  relieved  to  find 
you  had  come  to  my  house  instead  ?  Well,  I  suppose 
one  must  make  allowances  for  the  Puritan  character." 

"Brandon  isn't  much  of  a  Puritan,  and  he's  cer- 
tainly not  a  prig,"  Jake  objected. 

Kenwardine  laughed.     "  I'm  not  sure  this  explana- 


DICK  KEEPS  HIS  PROMISE         125 

tion  makes  things  much  better,  but  we'll  let  it  go.  We 
were  talking  about  the  new  water  supply.  It's  a  harm- 
less subject  and  you  ought  to  be  interested." 

Jake  sat  down  and  stole  a  glance  at  Clare  as  he 
drank  a  glass  of  wine.  There  was  nothing  to  be 
learned  from  her  face,  but  he  was  vexed  with  Ken- 
wardine,  who  had  intentionally  involved  him  in  an 
awkward  situation.  Jake  admitted  that  he  had  not 
dealt  with  it  very  well.  For  all  that,  he  began  to  talk 
about  the  irrigation  works  and  the  plans  for  bringing 
water  to  the  town,  and  was  relieved  to  see  that  Clare 
had  gone  when  he  next  looked  round. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  Clare  had  quietly  stolen  away 
and  was  sitting  on  a  balcony  in  the  dark,  tingling 
with  anger  and  humiliation.  She  imagined  that  she 
had  banished  Brandon  from  her  thoughts  and  was 
alarmed  to  find  that  he  had  still  power  to  wound  her. 
It  had  been  a  shock  to  learn  he  believed  that  she  had 
stolen  his  papers;  but  he  had  now  warned  his  com- 
panion against  her  father  and  no  doubt  herself. 
Jake's  manner  when  questioned  had  seemed  to  indi- 
cate this. 

By  and  by  she  tried,  not  to  make  excuses  for  Bran- 
don, but  to  understand  his  point  of  view,  and  was 
forced  to  admit  that  it  was  not  unreasonable.  Her 
father  now  and  then  allowed,  or  perhaps  encouraged, 
his  guests  to  play  for  high  stakes,  and  she  had  hated 
to  see  the  evening  gatherings  of  extravagant  young 
men  at  their  house  in  England.  Indeed,  she  had 
eagerly  welcomed  the  change  when  he  had  offered  to 
take  her  abroad  because  business  necessitated  his  leav- 
ing the  country.  Things  had  been  better  at  Santa 
Brigida,  but  after  a  time  the  card  playing  had  begun 
again.     The  men  who  now  came  to  their  house  were. 


126    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

however,  of  a  different  type  from  the  rather  dissi- 
pated youths  she  had  previously  met.  They  were 
quieter  and  more  reserved;  men  of  experience  who 
had  known  adventure.  Still,  she  disliked  their  com- 
ing and  had  sometimes  felt  she  must  escape  from  a 
life  that  filled  her  with  repugnance.  The  trouble  was 
that  she  did  not  know  where  to  find  a  refuge  and  could 
not  force  herself  to  leave  her  father,  who  had  treated 
her  with  good-humored  indulgence. 

Then  she  began  to  wonder  what  was  the  business 
that  had  brought  him  to  Santa  Brigida.  He  did  not 
talk  about  it,  but  she  was  sure  it  was  not  gambling, 
as  Brandon  thought.  No  doubt  he  won  some  money 
from  his  friends,  but  it  could  not  be  much  and  he 
must  lose  at  times.  She  must  look  for  another  ex- 
planation and  it  was  hard  to  find.  Men  who  did  not 
play  cards  came  to  the  house  in  the  daytime  and  occa- 
sionally late  at  night,  and  Kenwardine,  who  wrote  a 
good  many  letters,  now  and  then  went  away  down  the 
coast.  There  was  a  mystery  about  his  occupation  that 
puzzled  and  vaguely  alarmed  her,  and  she  could  turn 
to  nobody  for  advice.  She  had  refused  her  aunt's 
offer  of  a  home  and  knew  it  would  not  be  renewed. 
They  had  cast  her  off  and  done  with  her.  Getting 
up  presently  with  a  troubled  sigh,  she  went  to  her 
room. 

In  the  meantime,  Jake  stayed  in  the  patio  with  the 
others.  A  thin,  dark  Spaniard,  who  spoke  English 
well,  and  two  Americans  occupied  the  other  side  of 
the  table;  a  fat  German  sat  nearly  opposite  the  Span- 
iard and  next  to  Jake.  The  heat  made  them  languid 
and  nobody  wanted  to  play  cards,  although  there  was 
a  pack  on  the  table.  This  happened  oftener  than 
Brandon  thought. 


DICK  KEEPS  HIS  PROMISE         127 

"Ifs  a  depressing  night  and  an  enervating  coun- 
try," Kenwardine  remarked.  "  I  wonder  why  we  stay 
here  as  we  do,  since  we're  apt  to  leave  it  as  poor  as 
when  we  came.  The  people  are  an  unstable  lot,  and 
when  you've  spent  your  time  and  energy  developing 
what  you  hope  is  a  profitable  scheme,  some  change  of 
policy  or  leaders  suddenly  cuts  it  short." 

"  I  guess  that  explains  why  we  are  here,"  one  of 
the  Americans  replied.  "  The  South  is  the  home  of 
the  dramatic  surprise  and  this  appeals  to  us.  In  the 
North,  they  act  by  rule  and  one  knows,  more  or  less, 
what  will  happen ;  but  this  gives  one  no  chances  to  bet 
upon." 

The  fat  German  nodded.  "  It  is  the  gambler's  point 
of  view.  You  people  take  with  pleasure  steep  chances, 
as  they  say,  but  mine  act  not  so.  The  system  is  bet- 
ter. One  calculates  beforehand  what  may  happen  and 
it  is  provided  for.  If  things  do  not  go  as  one  expects, 
one  labors  to  change  them,  and  when  this  is  not  possi- 
ble adopts  an  alternative  plan." 

"  But  there  always  is  a  plan,  Senor  Richter !  "  the 
Spaniard  remarked. 

Richter  smiled.  "With  us,  I  think  that  is  true. 
Luck  is  more  fickle  than  a  woman  and  we  like  not  the 
surprise.     But  our  effort  is  to  be  prepared  for  it." 

"  You're  a  pretty  hard  crowd  to  run  up  against," 
said  the  other  American. 

Jake,  who  had  taken  no  part  in  the  recent  talk,  and 
leaned  languidly  back  in  his  chair,  turned  his  head  as 
he  heard  footsteps  in  the  patio.  They  were  quick  and 
decided,  as  if  somebody  was  coming  straight  towards 
the  table,  but  they  stopped  suddenly.  This  seemed 
strange  and  Jake,  who  had  caught  a  glimpse  of  a  man 
in  white  clothes,  looked  round  to  see  if  Kenwardine 


128    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

had  made  him  a  sign.  The  latter,  however,  was  hght- 
ing  his  pipe,  but  the  Spaniard  leaned  forward  a  little, 
as  if  trying  to  see  across  the  patio.  Jake  thought  he 
would  find  this  difficult  with  the  light  of  the  lamp  in 
his  eyes,  but  Richter,  who  sat  opposite,  got  up  and 
reached  across  the  table. 

"  With  excuses,  Don  Sebastian,  but  the  wine  is  on 
your  side,"  he  said,  and  filled  his  glass  from  the  decan- 
ter before  he  sat  down. 

In  the  meantime  the  man  who  had  come  in  was 
waiting,  but  seemed  to  have  moved,  because  Jake  could 
only  see  an  indistinct  figure  in  the  gloom. 

"  Is  that  you,  Enrique  ?  "  Kenwardine  asked  when 
he  had  lighted  his  pipe. 

"Si,  sefior,"  a  voice  answered,  and  Kenwardine 
made  a  sign  of  dismissal. 

"  Bueno!  You  can  tell  me  about  it  to-morrow.  I 
am  engaged  now." 

The  footsteps  began  again  and  when  they  died  away 
Kenwardine  picked  up  the  cards. 

"  Shall  we  play  for  half  an  hour?"  he  asked. 

The  others  agreed,  but  the  stakes  were  moderate 
and  nobody  took  much  interest  in  the  game ;  and  Jake 
presently  left  the  house  without  seeing  anything  more 
of  Clare.  He  felt  he  had  wasted  the  evening,  but  as 
he  walked  back  to  the  line  he  thought  about  the  man 
whom  Kenwardine  had  sent  away.  He  did  not  think 
the  fellow  was  one  of  the  servants,  and  it  seemed 
strange  that  Richter  should  have  got  up  and  stood  in 
front  of  Don  Sebastian  when  the  latter  was  trying  to 
see  across  the  patio.  Still,  there  was  no  apparent 
reason  why  the  Spaniard  should  want  to  see  who  had 
come  in,  and  Jake  dismissed  the  matter. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

THE  RETURN   FROM   THE   FIESTA 

THE  sure-footed  mules,  braced  hard  against  the 
weight  of  the  carriage,  shd  down  a  steep  descent 
across  slippery  stones  when  Clare,  who  wondered  what 
would  happen  if  the  worn-out  harness  broke,  rode  into 
Adexe.  Gleaming  white  houses  rose  one  above  an- 
other among  feathery  palms,  with  a  broad  streak  of 
darker  green  in  their  midst  to  mark  the  shady  ala- 
meda.  Behind,  the  dark  range  towered  against  the 
sky;  in  front  lay  a  foam-fringed  beach  and  the  vast 
blue  sweep  of  dazzling  sea.  Music  came  up  through 
the  languid  murmur  of  the  surf,  and  the  steep  streets 
were  filled  with  people  whose  clothes  made  patches  of 
brilliant  color.  The  carriage  jolted  safely  down  the 
hill,  and  Clare  looked  about  with  interest  as  they  turned 
into  the  central  plaza,  where  the  driver  stopped. 

"It's  a  picturesque  Httle  town  and  I'm  glad  you 
brought  me,"  she  said.  "But  what  does  the  fiesta 
they're  holding  celebrate?" 

"  I  don't  know ;  the  first,  landing  of  the  Spaniards, 
perhaps,"  Kenwardine  replied.  "  Anyhow,  it's  a  pop- 
ular function,  and  as  everybody  in  the  neighborhood 
takes  part  in  it,  I  came  with  the  object  of  meeting  some 
people  I  do  business  with.  In  fact,  I  may  have  to 
leave  you  for  a  time  with  the  wife  of  a  Spaniard  whom 
I  know." 

When  coming  down  the  hillside  Clare  had  noticed 

129 


130    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

a  sugar  mill  and  an  ugly  coaling  wharf  that  ran  out 
into  the  bay.  Two  steamers  lay  not  far  off,  rolling 
gently  on  the  glittering  swell,  and  several  lighters  were 
moored  against  the  wharf.  Since  she  had  never 
heard  him  speak  of  coal,  she  imagined  her  father's 
business  was  with  the  sugar  mill,  but  he  seldom  talked 
to  her  about  such  matters  and  she  did  not  ask.  He 
took  her  to  an  old,  yellow  house,  with  tarnished  brass 
rails  barring  its  lower  windows  and  a  marble  foun- 
tion  in  the  patio,  where  brilliant  creepers  hung  from 
the  balconies.  The  soft  splash  of  falling  water  was 
soothing  and  the  spray  cooled  the  air. 

"  It  is  very  pretty,"  Clare  said  while  they  waited. 
"  I  wish  we  could  make  our  patio  like  this." 

"  We  may  be  able  to  do  so  when  Brandon  and  his 
friends  bring  us  the  water,"  Kenwardine  replied  with 
a  quick  glance  at  the  girl.  "  Have  you  seen  him  re- 
cently?" 

"  Not  for  three  or  four  weeks,"  said  Clare. 

There  was  nothing  to  be  learned  from  her  face, 
but  Kenwardine  noted  a  hint  of  coldness  in  her  voice. 
Next  moment,  however,  a  stout  lady  in  a  black  dress, 
and  a  thin,  brown- faced  Spaniard  came  down  to  rneet 
them.  Kenwardine  presented  Clare,  and  for  a  time 
they  sat  on  a  balcony,  talking  in  a  mixture  of  French 
and  Castilian.  Then  a  man  came  up  the  outside  stair- 
case and  took  off  his  hat  as  he  turned  to  Kenwardine. 
He  had  a  swarthy  skin,  but  Clare  carelessly  remarked 
that  the  hollows  about  his  eyes  were  darker  than  the 
rest  of  his  face,  as  if  they  had  been  overlooked  in  a 
hurried  wash,  and  his  bare  feet  were  covered  with 
fine,  black  dust. 

"  Don  Martin  waits  you,  sefior,"  he  said. 


THE  RETURN  FROM  THE  FIESTA     131 

Kenwardine  excused  himself  to  his  hostess,  and 
after  promising  to  return  before  long  went  away  with 
the  man. 

"  Who  is  Don  Martin,  and  does  he  own  the  coaling 
wharf  ?  "  Clare  asked. 

"  No,"  said  the  Spaniard.  "  What  makes  you  im- 
agine so  ?  " 

^*  There  was  some  coal-dust  on  his  messenger." 

The  Spaniard  laughed.  "Your  eyes  are  as  keen 
as  they  are  bright,  seiiorita,  but  your  father  spoke  of 
business  and  he  does  not  deal  in  coal.  They  use  it 
for  the  engine  at  the  sugar  mill." 

"  Could  I  follow  him  to  the  mill?  I  would  like  to 
see  how  they  extract  the  sugar  from  the  cane." 

"  It  is  not  a  good  day  for  that ;  the  machinery  will 
not  be  running,"  said  the  Spaniard,  who  looked  at  his 
wife. 

"  I  meant  to  take  you  to  the  cathedral.  Everybody 
goes  on  the  fiesta,"  the  lady  broke  in. 

Clare  agreed.  She  suspected  that  her  father  had 
not  gone  to  the  sugar  mill,  but  this  did  not  matter, 
and  she  presently  left  the  house  with  her  hostess.  The 
small  and  rather  dark  cathedral  was  crowded,  and 
Clare,  who  understood  very  little  of  what  went  on, 
was  impressed  by  the  close  rows  of  kneeling  figures, 
while  the  candles  glimmering  through  the  incense,  and 
the  music,  had  their  effect.  She  came  out  in  a  thought- 
ful mood,  partly  dazzled  by  the  change  of  light,  and 
it  was  with  something  of  a  shock  she  stopped  to  avoid 
collision  with  a  man  at  the  bottom  of  the  steps.  It 
was  Brandon,  and  she  noted  that  he  looked  well  again, 
but  although  they  were  face  to  face  and  he  waited 
with  his  eyes  fixed  on  her,  she  turned  away  and  spoke 


132     BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

to  her  companion.  Dick  crossed  the  street  with  his 
hand  clenched  and  his  face  hot,  but  felt  that  he  had 
deserved  his  rebuff.  He  could  not  expect  Miss  Ken- 
wardine  to  meet  him  as  a  friend. 

An  hour  or  two  later,  Kenwardine  returned  to  the 
house  with  Richter,  the  German,  and  said  he  found 
he  must  drive  to  a  village  some  distance  ofif  to  meet 
an  official  whom  he  had  expected  to  see  in  the  town. 
He  doubted  if  he  could  get  back  that  night,  but  a 
sailing    barquillo    would    take    passengers    to    Santa 
Brigida,  and  Clare  could  go  home  by  her.     The  girl 
made  no  objection  when  she  heard  that  two  French 
ladies,  whom  she  knew,  were  returning  by  the  boat 
and  stayed  with  her  hostess  when  Kenwardme  and 
Richter  left.     Towards  evening  the   Spaniard  came 
in  and  stated  that  the  barquillo  had  sailed  earlier  than 
had  been  announced,  but  a  steam  launch  was  gomg 
to  Santa  Brigida  with  some  friends  of  his  on  board 
and  he  could  get  Clare  a  passage  if  she  would  sooner 
go.     Sefior  Kenwardine,  he  added,  might  drive  home 
by  another  road  without  calling  Acre  again. 

Half  an  hour  later  Clare  went  with  him  to  the  coal- 
ing wharf,  where  a  launch  lay  at  some  steps.  A  few 
people  were  already  on  board,  and  her  host  left  after 
putting  her  in  charge  of  a  Spanish  lady.  The  girl 
imagined  that  he  was  glad  to  get  rid  of  her,  and 
thought  there  was  something  mysterious  about  her 
father's  movements.  Something  he  had  not  expected 
must  have  happened,  because  he  would  not  have 
brought  her  if  he  had  known  he  could  not  take  her 
home.  It  was,  however,  not  a  long  run  to  Santa 
Brigida,  by  sea,  and  the  launch,  which  had  a  powerful 
engine,  looked  fast. 


THE  RETURN  FROM  THE  FIESTA     133 

In  another  few  minutes  a  man  came  down  the  steps 
and  threw  off  a  rope  before  he  jumped  on  board. 
Taking  off  his  hat  to  the  passengers,  he  started  the 
engine  and  sat  down  at  the  helm.  Clare  did  not  see 
his  face  until  the  launch  was  gliding  away  from  the 
wharf,  and  then  hid  her  annoyance  and  surprise,  for 
it  was  Brandon.  His  eyes  rested  on  her  for  a  mo- 
ment as  he  glanced  about  the  boat,  but  she  saw  he  did 
not  expect  recognition.  Perhaps  she  had  been  wrong 
when  she  passed  him  outside  the  cathedral,  but  it  was 
now  too  late  to  change  her  attitude. 

The  water  was  smooth,  the  sun  had  sunk  behind  the 
range,  and  a  warm  breeze  that  ruffled  the  shining  sur- 
face with  silky  ripples  blew  off  the  shore.  The  rum- 
ble of  the  surf  came  in  a  deep  undertone  through  the 
throb  of  the  engine,  and  the  launch  sped  on  with  a 
frothy  wave  curling  at  her  bows.  Now  and  then 
Clare  glanced  quickly  at  the  helmsman,  who  sat  with 
his  arm  thrown  round  the  tiller.  She  thought  he 
looked  disturbed,  and  felt  sorry,  though  she  told  her- 
self that  she  had  done  the  proper  thing. 

After  a  time  the  launch  swung  in  towards  the  beach 
and  stopped  at  a  rude  landing  behind  a  reef.  Houses 
showed  among  the  trees  not  far  off  and  Clare  thought 
this  was  the  pueblo  of  Arenas.  Then  she  was  dis- 
turbed to  see  that  all  her  companions  were  going  to 
land.  When  the  Spanish  lady  said  good-by  she  got 
up,  with  the  idea  of  following  the  rest,  but  Dick 
stopped  her. 

"Do  you  expect  Mr.  Kenwardine  to  meet  you?" 
he  asked. 

"No.  I  was  told  the  launch  was  going  to  Santa 
Brigida,  but  didn't  know  that  she  was  yours." 


134    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

Dick  eyes  twinkled.  "  I  am  going  to  Santa  Brigida 
and  the  boat  is  one  we  use,  but  my  colored  fireman  re- 
fused to  leave  the  fiesta.  Now  you  can't  stay  at 
Arenas,  and  I  doubt  if  you  can  get  a  mule  to  take  you 
home,  because  they'll  all  have  gone  to  Adexe.  But, 
if  you  like,  we'll  go  ashore  and  try." 

"You  don't  think  I  could  find  a  carriage?"  Clare 
asked  irresolutely,  seeing  that  if  she  now  showed  her- 
self determined  to  avoid  him,  it  would  be  humiliating 
to  be  forced  to  fall  back  upon  his  help. 

"I  don't.  Besides,  it's  some  distance  to  Santa 
Brigida  over  a  rough,  steep  road  that  you'd  find  very 
awkward  in  the  dark,  while  as  I  can  land  you  in  an 
hour,  it  seems  unnecessary  for  you  to  leave  the  boat 

here." 

"  Yes,"  said  Clare,  "  perhaps  it  is." 

Dick  threw  some  coal  into  the  furnace,  and  re- 
started the  launch.  The  throb  of  the  engine  was 
quicker  than  before,  and  when  a  jet  of  steam  blew 
away  from  the  escape-pipe  Clare  imagined  that  he 
meant  to  lose  no  time.  She  glanced  at  him  as  he  sat 
at  the  helm  with  a  moody  face;  and  then  away  at 
the  black  hills  that  slid  past.  The  silence  was  em- 
barrassing and  she  wondered  whether  he  would  break 
it.  On  the  whole,  she  wanted  him  to  do  so,  but  would 
give  him  no  help. 

"  Of  course,"  he  said  at  length,  "  you  needn't  talk 
if  you'd  sooner  not.  But  you  gave  me  the  cut  direct 
in  Adexe,  and  although  I  nriay  have  deserved  it,  it 

hurt." 

"  I  don't  see  why  it  should  hurt,"  Clare  answered 

coldly. 

"  Don't  you  ?  "  he  asked.     "  Well,  you  have  the  right 


THE  RETURN  FROM  THE  FIESTA     135 

to  choose  your  acquaintances;  but  I  once  thought  we 
were  pretty  good  friends  and  I  mightn't  have  got  bet- 
ter if  you  hadn't  taken  care  of  me.  That  ought  to 
count  for  something." 

Clare  blushed,  but  her  eyes  sparkled  and  her  glance 
was  steady.  "  If  we  are  to  have  an  explanation,  it 
must  be  complete  and  without  reserve.  Very  well! 
Why  did  you  change  when  you  were  getting  better? 
And  why  did  you  hint  that  I  must  know  you  hadn't 
stolen  the  plans  ?  " 

Dick  studied  her  with  some  surprise.  He  had 
thought  her  gentle  and  trustful,  but  saw  that  she 
burned  with  imperious  anger.  It  certainly  was  not 
acting  and  contradicted  the  supposition  of  her  guilt. 

"  If  I  did  hint  anything  of  the  kind,  I  must  have 
been  a  bit  light-headed,"  he  answered  awkwardly. 
"  You  get  morbid  fancies  when  you  have  fever." 

"The  fever  had  nearly  gone.  You  were  braver 
then  than  you  seem  to  be  now." 

"  I  suppose  that's  true.  Sometimes  a  shock  gives 
you  pluck  and  I  got  a  nasty  one  as  I  began  to  remem- 
ber things." 

Both  were  silent  for  the  next  few  moments.  Clare's 
pose  was  tense  and  her  look  strained,  but  her  anger 
had  vanished.  Dick  thought  she  was  calmer  than 
himself,  but  after  all,  she  was,  so  to  speak,  on  her 
defense  and  her  part  was  easier  than  his.  He  had 
forgiven  her  for  robbing  him ;  Kenwardine  had  forced 
her  to  do  so,  and  Dick  regretted  he  had  not  hidden  his 
knowledge  of  the  deed  she  must  have  hated.  It  was 
bodily  weakness  that  had  led  him  to  show  his  suspi- 
cion, but  he  knew  that  if  they  were  to  be  friends  again 
no  reserve  was  possible.     As  Clare  had  said,  the  ex- 


136    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

planation  must  be  complete.  It  was  strange,  after 
what  had  happened,  that  he  should  want  her  friend- 
ship, but  he  did  want  it,  more  than  anything  else.  Yet 
she  must  be  told  plainly  what  he  had  thought  her. 
He  shrank  from  the  task. 

"What  did  you  remember?"  Clare  asked,  forcing 
herself  to  look  at  him. 

"  That  I  had  the  plans  in  the  left,  top  pocket  of  my 
uniform  when  I  reached  your  house;  I  felt  to  see  if 
they  were  there  as  I  came  up  the  drive,"  he  answered 
doggedly.  "  Soon  afterward,  you  slipped  as  we  went 
down  the  steps  into  the  garden  and  in  clutching  me 
your  hand  caught  and  pulled  the  pocket  open.  It  was 
a  deep  pocket  and  the  papers  could  not  have  fallen 

out." 

"  So  you  concluded  that  I  had  stolen  them! "  Clare 
said  in  a  cold,  strained  voice,  though  her  face  flushed 
crimson. 

"  What  else  could  I  think  ?  " 

Then,  though  she  tried  to  hide  the  breakdown, 
Qare's  nerve  gave  way.  She  had  forced  the  crisis 
in  order  to  clear  herself,  but  saw  that  she  could  not 
do  so.  Dick's  statement  was  convincing;  the  papers 
had  been  stolen  while  he  was  in  their  house,  and  she 
had  a  horrible  suspicion  that  her  father  was  the  thief. 
It  came  with  a  shock,  though  she  had  already  been 
tormented  by  a  vague  fear  of  the  truth  that  she  had 
resolutely  refused  to  face.  She  remembered  the  men 
who  were  at  the  house  on  the  eventful  night.  They 
were  somewhat  dissipated  young  sportsmen  and  not 
remarkable  for  intelligence.  None  of  them  was 
likely  to  take  part  in  such  a  plot. 

"  You  must  understand  what  a  serious  thing  you  are 


THE  RETURN  FROM  THE  FIESTA     137 

saying,"  she  faltered,  trying  to  doubt  him  and  finding 
that  she  could  not. 

"  I  do,"  he  said,  regarding  her  with  gravely  pitiful 
eyes.  "  Still,  you  rather  forced  it  out  of  me.  Per- 
haps this  is  a  weak  excuse,  because  I  had  meant  to 
forget  the  matter." 

"  But  didn't  you  want  to  clear  yourself  and  get 
taken  back  ?  " 

"  No ;  I  knew  it  was  too  late.  I'd  shown  I  couldn't 
be  trusted  with  an  important  job;  and  I'd  made  a 
fresh  start  here." 

His  answer  touched  the  girl,  and  after  a  quick  half- 
ashamed  glance,  she  thought  she  had  misjudged  him. 
It  was  not  her  physical  charm  that  had  made  him  will- 
ing to  condone  her  offense,  for  he  showed  none  of  the 
bold  admiration  she  had  shrunk  from  in  other  men. 
Instead,  he  was  compassionate  and,  she  imagined, 
anxious  to  save  her  pain. 

She  did  not  answer  and  turning  her  head,  vacantly 
watched  the  shore  slide  past.  The  mountains  were 
growing  blacker,  trails  of  mist  that  looked  like  gauze 
gathered  in  the  ravines,  and  specks  of  light  began  to 
pierce  the  gloom  ahead.  They  marked  Santa  Brigida, 
and  something  must  still  be  said  before  the  launch 
reached  port.  It  was  painful  that  Brandon  should 
take  her  guilt  for  granted,  but  she  feared  to  declare  her 
innocence. 

"  You  were  hurt  when  I  passed  you  at  Adexe,"  she 
remarked,  without  looking  at  him.  "  You  must,  how- 
ever, see  that  friendship  between  us  is  impossible  while 
you  think  me  a  thief." 

"  I  must  try  to  explain,"  Dick  said  slowly.  "  When 
I  recovered  my  senses  at  your  house  after  being  ill, 


138    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

I  felt  I  must  get  away  as  soon  as  possible,  though 
I  ought  to  have  remembered  only  that  you  had  taken 
care  of  me.  Still,  you  see,  my  mind  was  weak  just 
then.  Afterwards  I  realized  how  ungratefully  I  had 
behaved.  The  plans  didn't  matter ;  they  weren't  really 
of  much  importance,  and  I  knew  if  you  had  taken 
them,  it  was  because  your  were  forced.  That  made 
all  the  difference;  in  a  way,  you  were  not  to  blame. 
I'm  afraid,"  he  concluded  lamely,  "  I  haven't  made  it 
very  clear." 

Clare  was  moved  by  his  naive  honesty,  which  seemed 
to  be  guarded  by  something  finer  than  common  sense. 
After  all,  he  had  made  things  clear.  He  owned  that 
he  believed  she  had  taken  the  plans,  and  yet  he  did 
not  think  her  a  thief.  On  the  surface,  this  was  rather 
involved,  but  she  saw  what  he  meant.  Still,  it  did  not 
carry  them  very  far. 

"  It  is  not  long  since  you  warned  Mr.  Fuller  against 
us,"  she  resumed. 

"  Not  against  you ;  that  would  have  been  absurd. 
However,  Jake's  something  of  a  gambler  and  your 
father's  friends  play  for  high  stakes.  The  lad  was 
put  in  my  hands  by  people  who  trusted  me  to  look 
after  him.     I  had  to  justify  their  confidence." 

"Of  course.  But  you  must  understand  that  my 
father   and    I    stand    together.     What    touches    him, 

touches  me." 

Dick  glanced  ahead.  The  lights  of  Santa  Brigida 
had  drawn  out  in  a  broken  line,  and  those  near  the 
beach  were  large  and  bright.  A  hundred  yards  away, 
two  twinkling,  yellow  tracks  stretched  across  the  water 
from  the  shadowy  bulk  of  a  big  cargo  boat.  Farther 
on,  he  could  see  the  black  end  of  the  mole  washed  by 


THE  RETURN  FROM  THE  FIESTA     139 

frothy  surf.     There  was  Httle  time  for  further  talk 
and  no  excuse  for  stopping  the  launch. 

"That's  true  in  a  sense,"  he  agreed  with  forced 
quietness.  "I've  done  you  an  injustice,  Miss  Ken- 
wardine;  so  much  is  obvious,  but  I  can't  understand 
the  rest  just  yet,  I  suppose  I  mustn't  ask  you  to  for- 
get the  line  I  took  ?  " 

"  We  can't  be  friends  as  if  nothing  had  happened." 

Dick  made  a  gesture  of  moody  acquiescence. 
"Well,  perhaps  something  will  clear  up  the  matter 
by  and  by.  I  must  wait,  because  while  it's  difficult 
now,  I  feel  it  will  come  right." 

A  minute  or  two  later  he  ran  the  launch  alongside 
a  flight  of  steps  on  the  mole,  and  helping  Clare  to 
land  went  with  her  to  her  house.  They  said  nothing 
on  the  way,  but  she  gave  him  her  hand  when  he  left 
her  at  the  door. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

COMPLICATIONS 


TT  was  dark  outside  the  feeble  l«">P"gl'*'  ^"^dlv 
1  hot,  when  Dick  sat  on  his  veranda  after  a  day 
of  keen  activity  in  the  burning  sun.  He  felt  slack 
and  jaded  for  he  had  had  difficult  work  to  do  and  h.s 
duly  laborers  had  flagged  under  the  u^-al  h^*^ 
There  was  now  no  touch  of  coolness  in  the  stagnant 
S  and  although  the  camp  down  the  valley  was  very 
quiet  a  confused  hum  of  insects  came  out  of  the  jungle^ 
I  rose  and  fell  with  a  monotonous  -|«  \^^ 
jarred  upon  Dick's  nerves  as  he  forced  himself  to 

*He  was  in  danger  of  falling  in  love  with  Clare  Ken- 
wardine;  indeed,  he  suspected  that  't  7"^  be  better 
to  face  the  truth  and  admit  that  he  had  already  done 
so     Thlprudent  course  would  be  to  fight  agamst  and 

LTSle^'hi:  p':p:::rbut  after  an  he  did  n^t  hold  her 

r:::t^and"flnd  tt^  ^eTf bii^r^"- 

"fTo.  to  think  harshly  of  her,  but  he  knew  n- 
tViat  his  first  iudgment  was  right.     Uare,  wno  cou 
nofhave  doneinytog  base  and  treacherous,  was  much 
too  good  for  him.     This,  however,  was  not  the  sub- 
ject with  which  he  meant  to  occupy  himself,  because 


COMPLICATIONS  141 

if  he  admitted  that  he  hoped  to  marry  Clare,  there  were 
serious  obstacles  in  his  way. 

To  begin  with,  he  had  made  it  difficult,  if  not  impos- 
sible, for  the  girl  to  treat  him  with  the  friendliness 
she  had  previously  shown ;  besides  which,  Kenwardine 
would,  no  doubt,  try  to  prevent  his  meeting  her,  and 
his  opposition  would  be  troublesome.  Then  it  was 
plainly  desirable  that  she  should  be  separated  from 
her  father,  who  might  involve  her  in  his  intrigues,  be- 
cause there  was  ground  for  believing  that  he  was  a 
dangerous  man.  In  the  next  place,  Dick  was  far  from 
being  able  to  support  a  wife  accustomed  to  the  extrava- 
gance that  Kenwardine  practised.  It  might  be  long 
before  he  could  offer  her  the  lowest  standard  of  com- 
fort necessary  for  an  Englishwoman  in  a  hot,  foreign 
country. 

He  felt  daunted,  but  not  altogether  hopeless,  and 
while  hei  pondered  the  matter  Bethune  came  in.  On 
the  whole,  Dick  found  his  visit  a  relief. 

"  I  expect  you'll  be  glad  to  hear  we  can  keep  the 
machinery  nmning,"  Bethune  said  as  he  sat  down. 

Dick  nodded.  Their  fuel  was  nearly  exhausted, 
for  owing  to  strikes  and  shortage  of  shipping  Fuller 
had  been  unable  to  keep  them  supplied. 

"  Then  you  have  got  some  coal  ?  As  there's  none 
at  Santa  Brigida  just  now,  where's  it  coming  from?  " 

"  Adexe.  Four  big  lighter  loads.  Stuyvesant  has 
given  orders  to  have  them  towed  round." 

"I  understood  the  Adexe  people  didn't  keep  a  big 
stock.     The  wharf  is  small." 

"  So  did  I,  but  it  seems  that  Kenwardine  came  to 
Stuyvesant  and  offered  him  as  much  as  he  wanted." 

"  Kenwardine !  "  Dick  exclaimed. 


142    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

Bethune  lighted  his  pipe      "  ^es,  Kenwar^ne^    ^s 
the  wharf's  supposed  to  be  owned  by  Sp^n.ard^.  1 
don't  see  what  he  has  to  do  with  .t,  "f  ^^^e  s  « 
cently  bought  them   out.    Anyhow,   its   high-grade 

"'"better  "stuff  than  we  need,  but  the  difference  in 
price  won't  matter  i£  we  can  keep  the  concrete  nidi 
going,"  Dick  remarked  thoughtfully.        Still,  it  s  pUE 
fw      If  Kenwardine  has  bought  the  wharf,  why  s  he 
sendmg  the  coal  away,  instead  of  using  it  m  the  regu- 
lar bunkering  trade?  "  j 
"There's  a  hint  of  mystery  about  the  nia"er.     i 
expect  you  heard  about  the  collier  tramp  that  was 
consigned  to  the  French  company  at  Arucas?    Owing 
to  some  dispute,  they  wouldn't  take  the  cargo  and  the 
shiooers  put  it  on  the  market.     Fuller  tried  to  buy 
some   but  found  that  another  party  had  got  the    ot. 
Welt  Smyvesant  believes  it  was  the  German,  R.chter, 

"'"  jSk  me'ihat  Richter's  a  friend  of  Kenwar- 

*"•  I  didn't  know  about  that,"  said  Bethune.  "  They 
may  have  bought  the  cargo  for  some  Pf}^"^J^;;[ 
po^,  for  which  they  afterwards  found  it  wouldn  t 
be  required,  and  now  want  to  sell  some  off. 

"Then  Kenwardine  must  have  more  money  than  I 

*""The  money  may  be  Richter's,"  Bethune  replied 
"HoweveTsnce  we'll  now  have  coal  enough  to  last 
un«  Fuller  sends  some  out,  I  don't  know  that  we 
hcvp  anv  further  interest  in  the  matter. 

HeXced  keenly  at  Dick's  thoughtful  face;  and 
thetafthelatter  dfd  not  answer,  talked  about  some- 


COMPLICATIONS  143 

thing  else  until  he  got  up  to  go.  After  he  had  gone, 
Dick  leaned  back  in  his  chair  with  a  puzzled  frown. 
He  had  met  Richter  and  rather  liked  him,  but  the 
fellow  was  a  German,  and  it  was  strange  that  he 
should  choose  an  English  partner  for  his  speculations, 
as  he  seemed  to  have  done.  But  while  Kenwardine 
was  English,  Dick's  papers  had  been  stolen  at  his 
house,  and  his  distrust  of  the  man  grew  stronger. 
There  was  something  suspicious  about  this  coal  deal, 
but  he  could  not  tell  exactly  what  his  suspicions  pointed 
to,  and  by  and  by  he  took  up  the  plan  of  a  culvert 
they  were  to  begin  next  morning. 

A  few  days  later,  Jake  and  he  sat,  one  night,  in  the 
stern  of  the  launch,  which  lay  head  to  sea  about  half 
a  mile  from  the  Adexe  wharf.  The  promised  coal 
had  not  arrived,  and,  as  fuel  was  running  very  short 
at  the  concrete  mill,  Dick  had  gone  to  see  that  a 
supply  was  sent.  It  was  late  when  he  reached  Adexe, 
and  found  nobody  in  authority  about,  but  three  loaded 
lighters  were  moored  at  the  wharf,  and  a  gang  of 
peons  were  trimming  the  coal  that  was  being  thrown 
on  board  another.  Ahead  of  the  craft  lay  a  small 
tug  with  steam  up.  As  the  half-breed  foreman  de- 
clared that  he  did  not  know  whether  the  coal  was  going 
to  Santa  Brigida  or  not,  Dick  boarded  the  tug  and 
found  her  Spanish  captain  drinking  cafia  with  his  en- 
gineer, Dick  thought  one  looked  at  the  other  mean- 
ingly as  he  entered  the  small,  hot  cabin. 

"  I  suppose  it's  Sefior  Fuller's  coal  in  the  barges, 
and  we're  badly  in  want  of  it,"  he  said.  "As  you 
have  steam  up,  you'll  start  soon." 

**  We  start,  yes,"  answered  the  skipper,  who  spoke 
some  English,  and  then  paused  and  shrugged.     "  I 


144    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

do  not  know  if  we  get  to  Santa  Brigida  to-night." 

"Why?"  Dick  asked.  "There's  not  very  much 
wind,  and  it's  partly  off  the  land." 

The  half-breed  engineer  described  in  uncouth  Cas- 
tilian  the  difficulties  he  had  had  with  a  defective  pump 
and  leaking  glands,  and  Dick,  who  did  not  understand 
much  of  it,  went  back  to  his  launch.  Stopping  the 
craft  a  short  distance  from  the  harbor,  he  said  to 
Jake:  "We'll  wait  until  they  start.  Somehow  I 
don't  think  they  meant  to  leave  to-night  if  I  hadn't 
turned  them  out." 

Jake  looked  to  windward.  There  was  a  moon  in 
the  sky,  which  was,  however,  partly  obscured  by  driv- 
ing clouds.  The  breeze  was  strong,  but,  blowing 
obliquely  off  the  land  did  not  ruffle  the  sea  much  near 
the  beach.  A  long  swell,  however,  worked  in,  and 
farther  out  the  white  tops  of  the  combers  glistened  in 
the  moonlight.  Now  and  then  a  fresher  gust  swept 
off  the  shadowy  coast  and  the  water  frothed  in  angry 
ripples  about  the  launch. 

"  They  ought  to  make  Santa  Brigida,  though  they'll 
find  some  sea  running  when  they  reach  off-shore  to 
go  round  the  Tajada  reef,"  he  remarked. 

"There's  water  enough  through  the  inside  chan- 
nel." 

"  That's  so,"  Jake  agreed.  "  Still,  it's  narrow  and 
bad  to  find  in  the  dark,  and  I  expect  the  skipper  would 
sooner  go  outside."  Then  he  glanced  astern  and  said, 
"  They're  coming  out." 

Two  white  lights,  one  close  above  the  other,  with 
a  pale  red  glimmer  below,  moved  away  from  the 
wharf.  Behind  them  three  or  four  more  twinkling 
red  spots  appeared,  and  Dick  told  the  fireman  to  start 


COMPLICATIONS  145 

the  engine  half-speed.  Steering  for  the  beach,  he 
followed  the  fringe  of  surf,  but  kept  abreast  of  the 
tug,  which  held  to  a  course  that  would  take  her  round 
the  end  of  the  reef. 

When  the  moon  shone  through  he  could  see  her 
plunge  over  the  steep  swell  and  the  white  wash  at 
the*  lighters'  bows  as  they  followed  in  her  wake; 
then  as  a  cloud  drove  past,  their  dark  hulls  faded 
and  left  nothing  but  a  row  of  tossing  lights.  By  and 
by  the  launch  reached  a  bend  in  the  coastline  and  the 
breeze  freshened  and  drew  more  ahead.  The  swell 
began  to  break  and  showers  of  spray  blew  on  board, 
while  the  sea  got  white  off-shore. 

"  We'll  get  it  worse  when  we  open  up  the  Arenas 
bight,"  said  Jake  as  he  glanced  at  the  lurching  tug. 
"  It  looks  as  if  the  skipper  meant  to  give  the  reef  a 
wide  berth.  He's  swinging  off  to  starboard.  'Watch 
his  smoke." 

"  You  have  done  some  yachting,  then  ?  " 

"I  have,"  said  Jake.  "I  used  to  sail  a  shoal- 
draught  sloop  on  Long  Island  Sound.  Anyway,  if 
I'd  been  towing  those  coal-scows,  I'd  have  edged  in 
near  the  beach,  for  the  sake  of  smoother  water,  and 
wouldn't  have  headed  out  until  I  saw  the  reef.  It 
will  be  pretty  wet  on  board  the  scows  now,  and  they'll 
have  had  to  put  a  man  on  each  to  steer." 

Dick  nodded  agreement  and  signed  the  fireman  to 
turn  on  more  steam  as  he  followed  the  tug  out-shore. 
The  swell  got  steadily  higher  and  broke  in  angry 
surges.  The  launch  plunged,  and  rattled  as  she  swung 
her  screw  out  of  the  sea,  but  Dick  kept  his  course 
abreast  of  the  tug,  which  he  could  only  distinguish 
at  intervals  between  the  clouds  of  spray.     Her  mast- 


146    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

head  lights  reeled  wildly  to  and  fro,  but  the  low  red 
gleam  from  the  barges  was  hidden  and  he  began  to 
wonder  why  her  captain  was  steering  out  so  far.  It 
was  prudent  not  to  skirt  the  reef,  but  the  fellow  seemed 
to  be  giving  it  unnecessary  room.  The  lighters  would 
tow  badly  through  the  white,  curling  sea,  and  there 
was  a  risk  of  the  hawsers  breaking.  Besides,  the  en- 
gineer had  complained  that  his  machinery  was  not 
running  well. 

A  quarter  of  an  hour  later,  a  belt  of  foam  between 
them  and  the  land  marked  the  reef,  and  the  wind 
brought  off  the  roar  of  breaking  surf.  Soon  after- 
wards, the  white  surge  faded,  and  only  the  tug's  lights 
were  left  as  a  long  cloud-bank  drove  across  the  moon. 
Jake  stood  up,  shielding  his-  eyes  from  the  spray. 
"  He's  broken  his  rope;  the  coal's  adrift!  "  he  cried. 
Dick  saw  the  tug's  lights  vanish,  which  meant  that 
she  had  turned  with  her  stern  towards  the  launch; 
and  then  two  or  three  twinkling  specks  some  dis- 
tance off. 

"He'd  tow  the  first  craft  with  a  double  rope,  a 
bridle  from  his  quarters,"  he  said.  "  It's  strange  that 
both  parts  broke,  and,  so  far  as  I  can  make  out,  the 
tail  barge  has  parted  her  hawser,  too." 

A  whistle  rang  out,  and  Dick  called  for  full-speed 
as  the  tug's  green  light  showed. 

"We'll  help  him  to  pick  up  the  barges,"  he  re- 
marked. 

The  moon  shone  out  as  they  approached  the  near- 
est, and  a  bright  beam  swept  across  the  sea  until  it 
touched  the  lurching  craft.  Her  wet  side  glistened 
about  a  foot  above  the  water  and  then  vanished  as  a 
white  surge  lapped  over  it  and  washed  across  her 


COMPLICATIONS  147 

deck.  A  rope  trailed  from  her  bow  and  her  long 
tiller  jerked  to  and  fro.  It  was  obvious  that  she  was 
adrift  with  nobody  on  board,  and  Dick  cautiously 
steered  the  launch  towards  her. 

"  That's  curious,  but  perhaps  the  rest  drove  foul 
of  her  and  the  helmsman  lost  his  nerve  and  jumped," 
he  said.  "  I'll  put  Maccario  on  board  to  give  us  the 
hawser." 

"  Then  I'll  go  with  him,"  Jake  offered.  "  He  can't 
handle  the  big  rope  alone." 

Dick  hesitated.  It  was  important  that  they  should 
not  lose  the  coal,  but  he  did  not  want  to  give  the 
lad  a  dangerous  task.  The  barge  was  rolling  wildly 
and  he  durst  not  run  alongside,  while  some  risk  would 
attend  a  jump  across  the  three  or  four  feet  of  water 
between  the  craft. 

"  I  think  you'd  better  stop  here,"  he  objected. 

"  I  don't,"  Jake  answered  with  a  laugh.  "  Guess 
you've  got  to  be  logical.  You  want  the  coal,  and  it 
will  take  us  both  to  save  it." 

He  followed  the  fireman,  who  stood,  balancing  him- 
self for  a  spring,  on  the  forward  deck,  while  Dick 
let  the  launch  swing  in  as  close  as  he  thought  safe. 
The  man  leapt  and  Dick  watched  Jake  with  keen  anxi- 
ety as  the  launch  rose  with  the  next  comber,  but  the 
lad  sprang  off  as  the  bows  went  up,  and  came  down 
with  a  splash  in  the  water  that  flowed  across  the  light- 
er's deck.  Then  Dick  caught  the  line  thrown  him  and 
with  some  trouble  dragged  the  end  of  the  hawser  on 
board.  He  was  surprised  to  find  that  it  was  not 
broken,  but  he  waved  his  hand  to  the  others  as  he 
drove  the  launch  ahead,  steering  for  the  beach,  near 
which  he  expected  to  find  a  passage  through  the  reef. 


148    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

Before  he  had  gone  far  the  tug  steamed  towards 
him  with  the  other  barges  in  tow,  apparently  bound 
for  Adexe. 

"  It  is  not  possible  to  go  on,"  the  skipper  hailed. 
"  Give  me  a  rope ;  we  take  the  lighter." 

"You  shan't  take  her  to  Adexe,"  Dick  shouted. 
"  We  want  the  coal." 

Though  there  was  danger  in  getting  too  close,  the 
captain  let  the  tug  drift  nearer. 

"  We  bring  you  the  lot  when  the  wind  drops." 

"  No,"  said  Dick,  "  I'll  stick  to  what  I've  got." 

He  could  not  catch  the  captain's  reply  as  the  tug 
forged  past,  but  it  sounded  like  an  exclamation  of 
anger  or  surprise,  and  he  looked  anxiously  for  the 
foam  upon  the  reef.  It  was  some  time  before  he 
distinguished  a  glimmer  in  the  dark,  for  the  moon 
was  hidden  and  his  progress  was  slow.  The  lighter 
was  big  and  heavily  laden,  and  every  now  and  then 
her  weight,  putting  a  sudden  strain  on  the  hawser, 
jerked  the  launch  to  a  standstill.  It  was  worse  when, 
lifting  with  the  swell,  she  sheered  off  at  an  angle  to 
her  course,  and  Dick  was  forced  to  maneuver  with 
helm  and  engine  to  bring  her  in  line  again,  at  some 
risk  of  fouling  the  hawser  with  the  screw.  He  knew 
little  about  towing,  but  he  had  handled  small  sailing 
boats  before  he  learned  to  use  the  launch.  The  coal 
was  badly  needed  and  must  be  taken  to  Santa  Brigida, 
though  an  error  of  judgment  might  lead  to  the  loss 
of  the  barge  and  perhaps  of  his  comrade's  life. 

The  phosphorescent  gleam  of  the  surf  got  plainer 
and  the  water  smoother,  for  the  reef  was  now  to  wind- 
ward and  broke  the  sea,  but  the  moon  was  still  cov- 
ered, and  Dick  felt  some  tension  as  he  skirted  the 


COMPLICATIONS  149 

barrier.  He  did  not  know  if  he  could  find  the  open- 
ing or  tow  the  lighter  through  the  narrow  channel. 
The  surf,  however,  was  of  help,  for  it  flashed  into 
sheets  of  spangled  radiance  as  it  washed  across  the 
reef,  leaving  dark  patches  among  the  lambent  foam. 
The  patches  had  a  solid  look,  and  Dick  knew  that  they 
were  rocks. 

At  length  he  saw  a  wider  break  in  the  belt  of  foam, 
and  the  sharper  plunging  of  the  launch  showed  that 
the  swell  worked  through.  This  was  the  mouth  of 
the  channel,  and  there  was  water  enough  to  float 
the  craft  if  he  could  keep  off  the  rocks.  Snatch- 
ing the  engine-lamp  from  its  socket,  he  waved  it  and 
blew  the  whistle.  A  shout  reached  him  and  showed 
that  the  others  understood. 

Dick  felt  his  nerves  tingle  when  he  put  the  helni  over 
and  the  hawser  tightened  as  the  lighter  began  to 
swing.  If  she  took  too  wide  a  sweep,  he  might  be 
unable  to  check  her  before  she  struck  the  reef,  and 
there  seemed  to  be  a  current  flowing  through  the  gap. 
Glancing  astern  for  a  moment,  he  saw  her  dark  hull 
swing  through  a  wide  curve  while  the  strain  on  the 
hawser  dragged  the  launch's  stem  down,  but  she  came 
round  and  the  tension  slackened  as  he  steered  up  the 
channel. 

For  a  time  he  had  less  trouble  than  he  expected; 
but  the  channel  turned  at  its  outer  end  and  wind  and 
swell  would  strike  at  him  at  an  awkward  angle,  when 
he  took  the  bend.  As  he  entered  it,  the  moon  shone 
out,  and  he  saw  the  black  top  of  a  rock  dangerously 
close  to  leeward.  He  waved  the  lantern,  but  the 
lighter,  with  sea  and  current  on  her  weather  bow, 
forged  almost  straight  ahead,  and  the  straining  hawser 


ISO    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

dragged  the  launch  back.  Reaching  forward,  Dick 
opened  the  throttle  valve  to  its  limit,  and  then  sat  grim 
and'  still  v^^hile  the  throb  of  the  screw  shook  the  trem- 
bling hull.  Something  would  happen  in  the  next  half 
minute  unless  he  could  get  the  lighter  round.  Glancing 
back,  he  saw  her  low,  wet  side  shine  in  the  moonlight. 
Two  dark  figures  stood  aft  by  the  tiller,  and  he  thought 
the  foam  about  the  rock  was  only  a  fathom  or  two 
away. 

The  launch  was  hove  down  on  her  side.  Though 
the  screw  thudded  furiously,  she  seemed  to  gain  no 
ground,  and  then  the  strain  on  the  hawser  suddenly 
slackened.  Dick  wondered  whether  it  had  broken, 
but  he  would  know  in  the  next  few  seconds;  there 
was  a  sharp  jerk,  the  launch  was  dragged  to  leeward, 
but  recovered  and  forged  ahead.  She  plunged  her 
bows  into  a  broken  swell  and  the  spray  filled  Dick's 
eyes,  but  when  he  could  see  again  the  foam  was  sliding 
past  and  a  gap  widened  between  the  lighter's  hull  and 
the  white  wash  on  the  rock. 

The  water  was  deep  ahead,  and  since  he  could  skirt 
the  beach  and  the  wind  came  strongly  off  the  land,  the 
worst  of  his  difficulties  seemed  to  be  past.  Still,  it 
would  be  a  long  tow  to  Santa  Brigida,  and  bracing 
himself  for  the  work,  he  lit  his  pipe. 


CHAPTER  XV 

THE    MISSING    COAL 

EARLY  next  morning  Dick  stood  in  front  of  the 
Hotel  Magellan,  where  he  had  slept  for  a  few 
hours  after  his  return,  and  was  somewhat  surprised 
to  see  that  Jake  had  got  up  before  him  and  was  talk- 
ing to  a  pretty,  dark-skinned  girl.  She  carried  a 
large  bunch  of  flowers  and  a  basket  of  fruit  stood  close 
by,  while  Jake  seemed  to  be  persuading  her  to  part 
with  some. 

Dick  stopped  and  watched  them,  for  the  glow  of 
color  held  his  eye.  Jake's  white  duck  caught  the 
strong  sunlight,  while  the  girl's  dark  hair  and  eyes 
were  relieved  by  the  brilliant  lemon-tinted  wall  and 
the  mass  of  crimson  bloom.  Her  attitude  was  coquet- 
tish, and  Jake  regarded  her  with  an  ingratiating  smile. 
After  a  few  moments,  however,  Dick  went  down  the 
street  and  presently  heard  his  comrade  following  him. 
When  the  lad  came  up,  he  saw  that  he  had  a  basket 
of  dark  green  fruit  and  a  bunch  of  the  red  flowers. 

"  I  thought  you  were  asleep.  Early  rising  is  not  a 
weakness  of  yours,"  he  said. 

"  As  it  happens,  I  didn't  sleep  at  all,"  Jake  replied. 
"  Steering  that  unhandy  coal-scow  rather  got  upon  my 
nerves  and  when  she  took  the  awkward  sheer  as  we 
came  through  the  reef  the  tiller  knocked  Maccario 
down  and  nearly  broke  my  ribs.  I  had  to  stop  the 
helm  going  the  wrong  way  somehow." 

151 


152    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

Dick  nodded.  It  was  obvious  that  the  lad  had  been 
quick  and  cool  at  a  critical  time,  but  his  twinkling 
smile  showed  that  he  was  now  in  a  different  mood. 

"You  seem  to  have  recovered.  But  why  couldn't 
you  leave  the  girl  alone?  " 

"  I'm  not  sure  she'd  have  liked  that,"  Jake  replied. 
"  It's  a  pity  you  have  no  artistic  taste,  or  you  might 
have  seen  what  a  picture  she  made." 

*'  As  a  matter  of  fact,  I  did  see  it,  but  she  has,  no 
doubt,  a  half-breed  lover  who'd  seriously  misunder- 
stand your  admiration,  which  might  lead  to  your  get- 
ting stabbed  some  night.  Anyhow,  why  did  you  buy 
the  flowers  ?  " 

"  For  one  thing,  she  was  taking  them  to  the  Magel- 
lan, and  I  couldn't  stand  for  seeing  that  blaze  of  color 
wasted  on  the  guzzling  crowd  you  generally  find  in  a 
hotel  dining-room." 

"  That  doesn't  apply  to  the  fruit.  You  can't  eat 
those  things.     They  preserve  them." 

"  Eat  them ! "  Jake  exclaimed  with  a  pitying  look. 
"  Well,  I  suppose  it's  the  only  use  you  have  for  fruit." 
He  took  a  stalk  fringed  with  rich  red  bloom  and  laid 
it  across  the  dark  green  fruit,  which  was  packed 
among  glossy  leaves.  "  Now,  perhaps,  you'll  see  why 
I  bought  it.     I  rather  think  it  makes  a  dainty  offering." 

"  Ah !  "  said  Dick.  "  To  whom  do  you  propose  to 
offer  it?" 

"Miss  Kenwardine,"  Jake  replied  with  a  twinkle; 
"  though  of  course  her  proper  color's  Madonna  blue." 

Dick  said  nothing,  but  walked  on,  and  when  Jake 
asked  where  he  was  going,  answered  shortly :  "  To 
the  telephone." 

"  Well,"  said  Jake,  "  knowing  you  as  I  do,  I  sus- 


THE  MISSING  COAL  i53 

pected  something  of  the  kind.  With  the  romance  o£ 
the  South  all  round  you,  you  can't  rise  above  concrete 
and  coal." 

He  followed  Dick  to  the  public  telephone  office  and 
sat  down  in  the  box  with  the  flowers  in  his  hands.  A 
line  had  recently  been  run  along  the  coast,  and  al- 
though the  service  was  bad,  Dick,  after  some  trouble, 
got  connected  with  a  port  official  at  Arenas. 

"  Did  a  tug  and  three  coal  barges  put  into  your 
harbor  last  night  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  No,  sefior,"  was  the  answer,  and  Dick  asked  for 
the  coal  wharf  at  Adexe. 

"  Why  didn't  you  call  them  first  ?  "  Jake  inquired. 

"  I  had  a  reason.  The  tug  was  standing  to  leeward 
when  she  left  us,  but  if  her  skipper  meant  to  come 
back  to  Santa  Brigida,  he'd  have  to  put  into  Arenas, 
where  he'd  find  shelter." 

"Then  you're  not  sure  he  meant  to  come  back?" 

"  I've  some  doubts,"  Dick  answered  dryly,  and  was 
told  that  he  was  connected  with  the  Adexe  wharf. 

"  What  about  the  coal  for  the  Fuller  irrigation 
works?  "  he  asked. 

"  The  tug  and  four  lighters  left  last  night,"  some- 
body answered  in  Castilian,  and  Dick  imagined  from 
the  harshness  of  the  voice  that  one  of  the  wharf-hands 
was  speaking. 

"That  is  so,"  he  said.     "Has  she  returned  yet?" 

"  No,  sefior,"  said  the  man.     "  The  tug " 

He  broke  off,  and  there  was  silence  for  some  mo- 
ments, after  which  a  different  voice  took  up  the  conver- 
sation in  English. 

"  Sorry  it  may  be  a  day  or  two  before  we  can  send 
more  of  your  coal.     The  tug's  engines " 


154    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

"  Has  she  got  back?"  Dick  demanded  sharply. 

"  Speak  louder ;  I  cannot  hear." 

Dick  did  so,  but  the  other  did  not  seem  to  under- 
stand. 

"  In  two  or  three  days.     You  have  one  lighter." 

"  We  have.     I  want  to  know  if  the  tug " 

"  The  damage  is  not  serious,"  the  other  broke  in. 

"Then  I'm  to  understand  she's  back  in  port?" 

A  broken  murmur  answered,  but  by  and  by  Dick 
caught  the  words,  "  Not  longer  than  two  days." 

Then  he  rang  off,  and  pushing  Jake's  chair  out  of 
the  way,  shut  the  door. 

"  It's  plain  that  they  don't  mean  to  tell  me  what  I 
want  to  know,"  he  remarked.  "  The  first  man  might 
have  told  the  truth,  if  they  had  let  him,  but  somebody 
pulled  him  away.  My  opinion  is  that  the  tug's  not 
at  Adexe  and  didn't  go  there." 

They  went  back  to  the  hotel,  and  Dick  sat  down  on 
a  bench  in  the  patio  and  lighted  his  pipe. 

"  There's  something  very  curious  about  the  mat- 
ter," he  said. 

"  When  the  tug  left  us  she  seemed  to  be  heading 
farther  off  shore  than  was  necessary,"  Jake  agreed. 
"  Still,  the  broken  water  wouldn't  matter  so  much 
when  she  had  the  wind  astern." 

"  Her  skipper  wouldn't  run  off  his  course  and 
lengthen  the  distance  because  the  wind  was  fair," 

"  No,  I  don't  suppose* he  would." 

"  Well,"  said  Dick,  "  my  impression  is  that  he 
didn't  mean  to  start  at  all,  and  wouldn't  have  done  so 
if  I  hadn't  turned  him  out." 

Jake  laughed.  "  After  all,  there's  no  use  in  making 
a  mystery  out  of  nothing.     The  people  offered  us  the 


THE  MISSING  COAL  155 

coal,  and  you  don't  suspect  a  dark  plot  to  stop  the 
works.     What  would  they  gain  by  that?  " 

"  Nothing  that  I  can  see.  I  don't  think  they  meant 
to  stop  the  works ;  but  they  wanted  the  coal.  It's  not 
at  Adexe,  and  there's  no  other  port  the  tug  could  reach. 
Where  has  it  gone  ?  " 

"  It  doesn't  seem  to  matter,  so  long  as  we  get  a 
supply  before  our  stock  runs  out." 

"  Try  to  look  at  the  thing  as  I  do,"  Dick  insisted 
with  a  frown.  "  I  forced  the  skipper  to  go  to  sea, 
and  as  soon  as  he  had  a  good  excuse  his  tow-rope 
parted,  besides  which  the  last  barge  went  adrift  from 
the  rest.  Her  hawser,  however,  wasn't  broken.  It 
was  slipped  from  the  craft  she  was  made  fast  to. 
Then,  though  the  tug's  engines  were  out  of  order,  she 
steamed  to  leeward  very  fast  and,  I  firmly  believe, 
hasn't  gone  back  to  Adexe." 

"  I  expect  there's  a  very  simple  explanation,"  Jake 
replied.  "  The  truth  is  you  have  a  rather  senseless 
suspicion  of  Kenwardine." 

"  I'll  own  I  don't  trust  him,"  Dick  answered 
quietly. 

Jake  made  an  impatient  gesture.  "  Let's  see  if  we 
can  get  breakfast,  because  I'm  going  to  his  house 
afterwards." 

"  They  won't  have  got  up  yet." 

"  It's  curious  that  you  don't  know  more  about  their 
habits  after  living  there.  Miss  Kenwardine  goes  out 
with  Lucille  before  the  sun  gets  hot,  and  her  father's 
about  as  early  as  you  are." 

"  What  does  he  do  in  the  morning?  " 

"  I  haven't  inquired,  but  I've  found  him  in  the  room 


156    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

he  calls  his  office.  You're  misled  by  the  idea  that  his 
occupation  is  gambling." 

Dick  did  not  reply,  and  was  silent  during  breakfast. 
He  understood  Jake's  liking  for  Kenwardine  because 
there  was  no  doubt  the  man  had  charm.  His  careless, 
genial  air  set  one  at  one's  ease;  he  had  a  pleasant 
smile,  and  a  surface  frankness  that  inspired  confi- 
dence. Dick  admitted  that  if  he  had  not  lost  the 
plans  at  his  house,  he  would  have  found  it  difficult 
to  suspect  him.  But  Jake  was  right  on  one  point; 
Kenwardine  might  play  for  high  stakes,  but  gambling 
was  not  his  main  occupation.  He  had  some  more  im- 
portant business.  The  theft  of  the  plans,  however, 
offered  no  clue  to  this.  Kenwardine  was  an  adven- 
turer and  might  have  thought  he  could  sell  the  draw- 
ings, but  since  he  had  left  England  shortly  afterwards, 
it  was  evident  that  he  was  not  a  regular  foreign  spy. 
It  was  some  relief  to  think  so,  and  although  there  was 
a  mystery  about  the  coal,  which  Dick  meant  to  fathom 
if  he  could,  nothing  indicated  that  Kenwardine's  trick- 
ery had  any  political  aim. 

Dick  dismissed  the  matter  and  remembered  with 
half- jealous  uneasiness  that  Jake  seemed  to  know  a 
good  deal  about  Kenwardine's  household.  The  lad, 
of  course,  had  gone  to  make  inquiries  when  he  was 
ill,  and  had  probably  been  well  received.  He  was  very 
little  younger  than  Clare,  and  Fuller  was  known  to 
be  rich.  It  would  suit  Kenwardine  if  Jake  fell  in  love 
with  the  girl,  and  if  not,  his  extravagance  might  be 
exploited.  For  all  that,  Dick  determined  that  his  com- 
rade should  not  be  victimized. 

When  breakfast  was  over  they  left  the  hotel  and 


THE  MISSING  COAL  157 

presently  met  Clare,  who  was  followed  by  Lucille 
carrying  a  basket.  She  looked  very  fresh  and  cool  in 
her  white  dress.  On  the  whole,  Dick  would  sooner 
have  avoided  the  meeting,  but  Jake  stopped  and  Clare 
included  Dick  in  her  smile  of  greeting. 

"  I  have  been  to  the  market  with  Lucille,"  she  said. 
"  The  fruit  and  the  curious  things  they  have  upon  the 
stalls  are  worth  seeing.  But  you  seem  to  have  been 
there,  though  I  did  not  notice  you." 

"  No,"  said  Jake,  indicating  the  flowers  and  fruit 
he  carried.  "  I  got  these  at  the  hotel.  The  colors 
matched  so  well  that  I  felt  I  couldn't  let  them  go,  and 
then  it  struck  me  that  you  might  like  them.  Dick 
warned  me  that  the  tilings  are  not  eatable  in  their 
present  state,  which  is  a  pretty  good  example  of  his 
utilitarian  point  of  view." 

Clare  laughed  as  she  thanked  him,  and  he  resumed : 
"  Lucille  has  enough  to  carry,  and  I'd  better  bring  the 
basket  along." 

"  Very  well,"  said  Clare.  "  My  father  was  getting 
up  when  I  left." 

Dick  said  nothing,  and  stood  a  yard  or  two  away. 
The  girl  had  met  him  without  embarrassment,  but  it 
was  Jake  she  had  addressed.  He  felt  that  he  was,  so 
to  speak,  being  left  out. 

"  Then  I'll  come  and  talk  to  him  for  a  while,"  said 
Jake.  "  I  don't  know  a  nicer  place  on  a  hot  morning 
than  your  patio." 

"  But  what  about  your  work?  Are  you  not  needed 
at  the  dam?" 

"  My  work  can  wait.  I  find  from  experience  that 
it  will  keep  for  quite  a  long  time  without  shriveling 
away,  though  often  it  gets  very  stale.     Anyhow,  after 


158    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

being  engaged  on  the  company's  business  for  the  most 
part  of  last  night,  I'm  entitled  to  a  rest.  My  partner, 
of  course,  doesn't  look  at  things  like  that.  He's  going 
back  as  fast  as  he  can." 

Dick  hid  his  annoyance  at  the  hint.  It  was  im- 
possible to  prevent  the  lad  from  going  to  Kenwardine's 
when  Clare  was  there  to  hear  his  objections,  and  he 
had  no  doubt  that  Jake  enjoyed  his  embarrassment. 
Turning  away,  he  tried  to  forget  the  matter  by  think- 
ing about  the  coal.  Since  Kenwardine  was  at  home, 
it  was  improbable  that  he  had  been  at  Adexe  during 
the  night.  If  Clare  had  a  part  in  her  father's  plots, 
she  might,  of  course,  have  made  the  statement  about 
his  getting  up  with  an  object,  but  Dick  would  not  ad- 
mit this.  She  had  helped  the  man  once,  but  this  was 
an  exception,  and  she  must  have  yielded  to  some  very 
strong  pressure.  For  all  that,  Dick  hoped  his  com- 
rade would  not  tell  Kenwardine  much  about  their  trip 
in  the  launch. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  Jake  handled  the  subject  with 
some  judgment  when  Kenwardine,  who  had  just  fin- 
ished his  breakfast,  gave  him  coffee  in  the  patio.  They 
sat  beneath  the  purple  creeper  while  the  sunshine  crept 
down  the  opposite  wall.  The  air  was  fresh  and  the 
murmur  of  the  surf  came  languidly  across  the  flat 
roofs. 

"Aren't  you  in  town  unusually  early?"  Kenwar- 
dine asked. 

"  Well,"  said  Jake  with  a  twinkle,  "  you  see  we  got 
here  late." 

"  Then  Brandon  was  with  you.  This  makes  it  ob- 
vious that  you  spent  a  perfectly  sober  night." 

Jake  laughed.     He   liked   Kenwardine   and  meant 


THE  MISSING  COAL  159 

to  stick  to  him,  but  although  rash  and  extravagant, 
he  was  sometimes  shrewd,  and  admitted  that  there 
might  perhaps  be  some  ground  for  Dick's  suspicions. 
He  was  entitled  to  lose  his  own  money,  but  he  must 
run  no  risk  of  injuring  his  father's  business.  How- 
ever, since  Kenwardine  had  a  share  in  the  coaling 
wharf,  he  would  learji  that  they  had  been  to  Adexe, 
and  to  try  to  hide  this  would  show  that  they  distrusted 
him. 

"  Our  occupation  was  innocent  but  rather  arduous," 
he  said.  "  We  went  to  Adexe  in  the  launch  to  see 
when  our  coal  was  coming." 

"  Did  you  get  it  ?  The  manager  told  me  something 
about  the  tug's  engines  needing  repairs." 

"  We  got  one  scow  that  broke  adrift  off  the  Tajada 
reef.     They  had  to  turn  back  with  the  others." 

"  Then  perhaps  I'd  better  telephone  to  find  out  what 
they  mean  to  do,"  Kenwardine  suggested. 

Jake  wondered  whether  he  wished  to  learn  if  they 
had  already  made  inquiries,  and  thought  frankness 
was  best. 

**  Brandon  called  up  the  wharf  as  soon  as  the  office 
was  open,  but  didn't  get  much  information.  Some- 
thing seemed  to  be  wrong  with  the  wire." 

"  I  suppose  he  wanted  to  know  when  the  coal  would 
leave?" 

"  Yes,"  said  Jake.  "  But  he  began  by  asking  if 
the  tug  had  come  back  safe,  and  got  no  further,  be- 
cause the  other  fellow  couldn't  hear." 

"  Why  was  he  anxious  about  the  tug  ?  " 

Kenwardine's  manner  was  careless,  but  Jake 
imagined  he  felt  more  interest  than  he  showed. 

"  It  was  blowing  pretty  fresh  when  she  left  us,  and 


i6o    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

if  the  scows  had  broken  adrift  again,  there'd  have  been 
some  risk  of  losing  them.  This  would  delay  the  de- 
livery of  the  coal,  and  we're  getting  very  short  of 
fuel." 

"  I  see,"  said  Kenwardine.  "  Well,  if  anything  of 
the  kind  had  happened,  I  would  have  heard  of  it.  You 
needn't  be  afraid  of  not  getting  a  supply." 

Jake  waited.  He  thought  it  might  look  significant 
if  he  showed  any  eagerness  to  change  the  subject,  but 
when  Kenwardine  began  to  talk  about  something  else 
he  followed  his  lead.  Half  an  hour  later  he  left  the 
house,  feeling  that  he  had  used  commendable  tact,  but 
determined  not  to  tell  Brandon  about  the  interview. 
Dick  had  a  habit  of  exaggerating  the  importance  of 
things,  and  since  he  already  distrusted  Kenwardine, 
Jake  thought  it  better  not  to  give  him  fresh  ground 
for  suspicion.  There  was  no  use  in  supplying  his 
comrade  with  another  reason  for  preventing  his  going 
to  the  house. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

JAKE   GETS  INTO   DIFFICULTIES 

DAY  was  breaking,  though  it  was  still  dark  at  the 
foot  of  the  range,  when  Dick  returned  wearily 
to  his  iron  shack  after  a  night's  work  at  the  dam. 
There  had  been  a  local  subsidence  of  the  foundations 
on  the  previous  afternoon,  and  he  could  not  leave  the 
spot  until  precautions  had  been  taken  to  prevent  the 
danger  spreading.  Bethune  came  with  him  to  look 
at  some  plans,  and  on  entering  the  veranda  they  were 
surprised  to  find  the  house  well  lighted  and  smears  of 
mud  and  water  upon  the  floor. 

"  Looks  as  if  a  bathing  party  had  been  walking 
round  the  shack,  and  your  boy  had  tried  to  clean  up 
when  he  was  half-asleep,"  Bethune  said. 

Dick  called  his  colored  servant  and  asked  him: 
"  Why  are  all  the  lights  burning,  and  what's  this 
mess?  " 

"  Senor  Fuller  say  he  no  could  see  the  chairs." 

"  Why  did  he  want  to  see  them  ?  " 

"  He  fall  on  one,  senor ;  t'row  it  wit'  mucha  force 
and  fall  on  it  again.  Say  dozenas  of  ftialditos  sillas. 
If  he  fall  other  time,  he  kill  my  head." 

"  Ah !  "  said  Dick  sharply.     "  Where  is  he  now?  " 

"  He  go  in  your  bed,  sefior." 

"  What  has  happened  is  pretty  obvious,"  Bethune 
remarked,     "  Fuller  came  home  with  a  big  jag  on 

i6i 


i62    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

and  scared  this  fellow.  We'd  better  see  if  he's  all 
right." 

Dick  took  him  into  his  bedroom  and  the  negro  fol- 
lowed. The  room  was  very  hot  and  filled  with  a 
rank  smell  of  kerosene,  for  the  lamp  was  smoking 
and  the  negro  explained  that  Jake  had  threatened 
him  with  violence  if  he  turned  it  down.  The  lad 
lay  with  a  flushed  face  on  Dick's  bed ;  his  muddy  boots 
sticking  out  from  under  the  crumpled  coverlet.  He 
seemed  to  be  fully  dressed  and  his  wet  clothes  were 
smeared  with  foul  green  slime.  There  was  a  big  red 
lump  on  his  forehead. 

"  Why  didn't  you  put  him  into  his  own  bed  ?  "  Dick 
asked  the  negro. 

"  He  go  in,  sefior,  and  come  out  quick.  Say  no 
possible  he  stop.     Maldito  bed  is  damp." 

Bethune  smiled.  "  There'll  be  a  big  washbasket 
for  the  lavenderas  to-morrow,  but  we  must  take  his 
wet  clothes  off."  He  shook  Jake.  "  You've  got  to 
wake  up !  " 

After  a  time  Jake  opened  his  eyes  and  blinked  at 
Bethune.  "All  right!  You're  not  as  fat  as  Salva- 
dor, and  you  can  catch  that  chair.  The  fool  thing  fol- 
lows me  and  keeps  getting  in  my  way." 

"  Come  out,"  Bethune  ordered  him,  and  turned  to 
the  negro.     "  Where's  his  pyjamas?  " 

Salvador  brought  a  suit,  and  Dick,  who  dragged 
Jake  out  of  bed,  asked :  "  How  did  you  get  into  this 
mess?" 

"  Fell  into  pond  behind  the  dam ;  not  safe  that  pond. 
Put  a  shingle  up  to-morrow,  '  Keep  off  the  grass.* 
No,  that'sh  not  right.  Let'sh  try  again.  '  Twenty 
dollars  fine  if  you  spit  on  the  sidewalk.'  " 


JAKE  GETS  INTO  DIFFICULTIES     163 

Bethune  grinned  at  Dick.  "  It's  not  an  unusual 
notice  in  some  of  our  smaller  towns,  and  one  must 
admit  it's  necessary.  However,  we  want  to  get  him 
into  dry  clothes." 

Jake  gave  them  some  trouble,  but  they  put  him  in 
a  re-made  bed  and  went  back  to  the  verandah,  where 
Bethune  sat  down. 

"  Fuller  has  his  good  points,  but  I  guess  you  find 
him  something  of  a  responsibility,"  he  remarked. 

"  I  do,"  said  Dick,  with  feeling.  "  Still,  this  is 
the  first  time  he  has  come  home  the  worse  for  liquor. 
I'm  rather  worried  about  it,  because  it's  a  new  trouble." 

"  And  you  had  enough  already  ? "  Bethune  sug- 
gested. "  Well,  though  you're  not  very  old  yet,  I 
think  Miss  Fuller  did  well  to  make  you  his  guardian, 
and  perhaps  I'm  to  blame  for  his  relapse,  because  I 
sent  him  to  Santa  Brigida.  Frangois  was  busy  and 
there  were  a  number  of  bills  to  pay  for  stores  we 
bought  in  the  town.  I  hope  Fuller  hasn't  lost  the 
money ! " 

Dick  felt  disturbed,  but  he  said,  "  I  don't  think  so. 
Jake's  erratic,  but  he's  surprised  me  by  his  prudence 
now  and  then." 

Bethune  left  soon  afterwards,  and  Dick  went  to 
bed,  but  got  up  again  after  an  hour  or  two  and  began 
his  work  without  seeing  Jake.  They  did  not  meet 
during  the  day,  and  Dick  went  home  to  his  evening 
meal  uncertain  what  line  to  take.  He  had  no  real 
authority,  and  finding  Jake  languid  and  silent,  de- 
cided to  say  nothing  about  his  escapade.  When  the 
meal  was  finished,  they  left  the  hot  room,  as  usual, 
for  the  veranda,  and  Jake  dropped  listlessly  into  a 
canvas  chair. 


i64    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

"  I  allow  you're  more  tactful  than  I  thought,"  he 
remarked  with  a  feeble  smile.  "  Guess  I  was  pretty 
drunk  last  night." 

"  It  looked  rather  like  it  from  your  clothes  and  the 
upset  in  the  house,"  -Dick  agreed. 

Jake  looked  thoughtful.  "  Well,"  he  said  ingenu- 
ously, "  I  have  been  on  a  jag  before,  but  I  really  don't 
often  indulge  in  that  kind  of  thing,  and  don't  remem- 
ber drinking  enough  to  knock  me  out.  You  see,  Ken- 
wardine's  a  fastidious  fellow  and  sticks  to  wine.  The 
sort  he  keeps  is  light." 

"  Then  you  got  drunk  at  his  house  ?  I'd  sooner 
have  heard  you  were  at  the  casino,  where  the  Spaniards 
would  have  turned  you  out." 

"  You  don't  know  the  worst  yet,"  Jake  replied  hesi- 
tatingly. "  As  I'm  in  a  very  tight  place,  I'd  better 
'fess  up.  Frangois  doesn't  seem  to  have  told  you 
that  I  tried  to  draw  my  pay  for  some  months  ahead." 

"  Ah !  "  said  Dick,  remembering  with  uneasiness 
what  he  had  learned  from  Bethune.  "  That  sounds 
ominous.     Did  you " 

**  Let  me  get  it  over,"  Jake  interrupted.  "  Richter 
was  there,  besides  a  Spanish  fellow,  and  a  man  called 
Black.  We'd  been  playing  cards,  and  I'd  won  a  small 
pile  when  my  luck  began  to  turn.  It  wasn't  long 
before  I  was  cleaned  out  and  heavily  in  debt.  Ken- 
wardine  said  I'd  had  enough  and  had  better  quit.  I 
sometimes  think  you  don't  quite  do  the  fellow  jus- 
tice." 

"  Never  mind  that,"  said  Dick.  "  I  suppose  you 
didn't  stop  ?  " 

"  No ;  I  took  a  drink  that  braced  me  up  and  soon 
afterwards   thought   I   saw   my   chance.     The   cards 


JAKE  GETS  INTO  DIFFICULTIES     165 

looked  pretty  good,  and  I  put  up  a  big  bluff  and  piled 
on  all  I  had." 

"  But  you  had  nothing;  you'd  lost  what  you  began 
with." 

Jake  colored.  "  Bethune  had  given  me  a  check  to 
bearer." 

"  I  was  afraid  of  that,"  Dick  said  gravely.  "  But 
go  on." 

"  I  thought  I'd  bluff  them,  but  Black  and  the  Span- 
iard told  me  to  play,  though  Kenwardine  held  back 
at  first.  Said  they  didn't  want  to  take  advantage  of 
my  rashness  and  I  couldn't  make  good.  Well,  I  saw 
how  I  could  put  it  over,  and  it  looked  as  if  they  couldn't 
stop  me,  until  Black  brought  out  a  trump  I  didn't  think 
he  ought  to  have.  After  that  I  don't  remember  much, 
but  imagine  I  turned  on  the  fellow  and  made  some 
trouble." 

"  Can  you  remember  how  the  cards  went  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  Dick  awkwardly,  "  not  now,  and  I  may 
have  been  mistaken  about  the  thing.  I  believe  I  fell 
over  the  table  and  they  put  me  on  a  couch.  After  a 
time,  I  saw  there  was  nobody  in  the  room,  and  thought 
I'd  better  get  out."  He  paused  and  added  with  a 
flush:  "I  was  afraid  Miss  Kenwardine  might  find 
me  in  the  morning." 

"  You  can't  pay  back  the  money  you  lost  ?  " 

"  I  can't.  The  check  will  show  in  the  works'  ac- 
counts and  there'll  sure  be  trouble  if  the  old  man 
hears  of  it." 

Dick  was  silent  for  a  few  moments.  It  was  curious 
that  Jake  had  tried  to  defend  Kenwardine;  but  this 
did  not  matter.  The  lad's  anxiety  and  distress  were 
plain. 


i66    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

"  If  you'll  leave  the  thing  entirely  in  my  hands,  I'll 
see  what  can  be  done,"  he  said.  "  I'll  have  to  tell 
Bethune." 

"  I'll  do  whatever  you  want,  if  you'll  help  me  out," 
Jake  answered  eagerly,  and  after  asking  some  ques- 
tions about  his  losses,  Dick  went  to  Bethune's  shack. 

Bethune  listened  thoughtfully  to  what  he  had  to 
say,  and  then  remarked :  "  We'll  take  it  for  granted 
that  you  mean  to  see  him  through.  Have  you  enough 
money?  " 

"  No ;  that's  why  I  came." 

"  You  must  get  the  check  back,  anyhow,"  said 
Bethune,  who  opened  a  drawer  and  took  out  a  roll  of 
paper  currency.  "  Here's  my  pile,  and  it's  at  your 
service,  but  it  won't  go  far  enough." 

"  I  think  it  will,  with  what  I  can  add,"  said  Dick, 
after  counting  the  bills.  "  You  see,  I  don't  mean  to 
pay  the  full  amount." 

Bethune  looked  at  him  and  smiled.  **  Well,  that's 
rather  unusual,  but  if  they  made  him  drunk  and  the 
game  was  not  quite  straight !  Have  you  got  his  prom- 
ise not  to  play  again  ?  " 

"  I  haven't.  What  I'm  going  to  do  will  make  it 
awkward,  if  not  impossible.  Besides,  he'll  have  no 
money.     I'll  stop  what  he  owes  out  of  his  pay." 

"  A  good  plan !  However,  I  won't  lend  you  the 
money;  I'll  lend  it  Jake,  which  makes  him  respon- 
sible. But  your  pay's  less  than  mine,  and  you'll  have 
to  economize  for  the  next  few  months." 

"  That  won't  matter,"  Dick  answered  quietly.  "  I 
owe  Fuller  something,  and  I  like  the  lad." 

He  went  back  to  his  shack  and  said  to  Jake,  "  We'll 
be  able  to  clear  off  the  debt,  but  you  must  ask  no  ques- 


JAKE  GETS  INTO  DIFFICULTIES     167 

tions  and  agree  to  any  arrangement  I  think  it  best  to 
make." 

"  You're  a  good  sort,"  Jake  said  with  feeling ;  but 
Dick  cut  short  his  thanks  and  went  off  to  bed. 

Next  morning  he  started  for  Santa  Brigida,  and 
when  he  reached  Kenwardine's  house  met  Clare  on  a 
balcony  at  the  top  of  the  outside  stairs.  Somewhat 
to  his  surprise,  she  stopped  him  with  a  sign,  and  then 
stood  silent  for  a  moment,  looking  disturbed. 

"  Mr.  Brandon,"  she  said  hesitatingly,  "  I  resented 
your  trying  to  prevent  Mr.  Fuller  coming  here,  but 
I  now  think  it  better  that  he  should  keep  away.  He's 
young  and  extravagant,  and  perhaps " 

"  Yes,"  said  Dick,  who  felt  sympathetic,  knowing 
what  her  admission  must  have  cost.  "  I'm  afraid 
he's  also  rather  unsteady." 

Clare  looked  at  him  with  some  color  in  her  face. 
"  I  must  be  frank.  Something  happened  recently  that 
showed  me  he  oughtn't  to  come.  I  don't  think  I 
realized  this  before." 

"  Then  you  know  what  happened  ?  " 

"  Not  altogether,"  Clare  replied.  "  But  I  learned 
enough  to  alarm  and  surprise  me.  You  must  under- 
stand that  I  didn't  suspect "     She  paused  with 

signs  of  confusion  and  then  resumed :  "  Of  course, 
people  of  different  kinds  visit  my  father  on  business, 
and  sometimes  stay  an  hour  or  two  afterwards,  and 
he  really  can't  be  held  responsible  for  them.  The  cus- 
toms of  the  country  force  him  to  be  friendly ;  you  know 
in  Santa  Brigida  one's  office  is  something  like  an  Eng- 
lish club.  Well,  a  man  who  doesn't  come  often  began 
a  game  of  cards  and  when  Mr.  Fuller " 

"  Just  so,"  said  Dick  as  quietly  as  he  could.     "  Jake's 


i68    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

rash  and  not  to  be  trusted  when  there  are  cards  about ; 
indeed,  I  expect  he's  a  good  deal  to  blame,  but  I'm 
now  going  to  ask  your  father  not  to  encourage 
his  visits.  I've  no  doubt  he'll  see  the  reason  for 
this." 

"  I'm  sure  he'll  help  you  when  he  understands," 
Clare  replied,  and  after  giving  Dick  a  grateful  look 
moved  away. 

Dick  went  along  the  balcony,  thinking  hard.  It 
was  obvious  that  Clare  had  found  the  interview  pain- 
ful, though  he  had  tried  to  make  it  easier  for  her. 
She  had  been  alarmed,  but  he  wondered  whether  she 
had  given  him  the  warning  out  of  tenderness  for  Jake. 
It  was  probable  that  she  really  thought  Kenwardine 
was  not  to  blame,  but  it  must  have  been  hard  to  ac- 
knowledge that  his  house  was  a  dangerous  place  for 
an  extravagant  lad.  Still,  a  girl  might  venture  much 
when  fighting  for  her  lover.  Dick  frowned  as  he  ad- 
mitted this.  Jake  was  a  good  fellow  in  spite  of  cer- 
tain faults,  but  it  was  disturbing  to  think  that  Clare 
might  be  in  love  with  him. 

It  was  something  of  a  relief  when  Kenwardine  met 
him  at  the  door  of  his  room  and  took  him  in.  Dick 
felt  that  tact  was  not  so  needful  now,  because  the  hos- 
pitality shown  him  was  counterbalanced  by  the  theft 
of  the  plans,  and  he  held  Kenwardine,  not  Clare,  ac- 
countable for  this.  Kenwardine  indicated  a  chair,  and 
then  sat  down. 

'  "  As  you  haven't  been  here  since  you  got  better,  I 
imagine  there's  some  particular  reason  for  this  call," 
he  said,  with  a  smile, 

"  That  is  so,"  Dick  agreed.     "  I've  come  on  Fuller's 


JAKE  GETS  INTO  DIFFICULTIES     169 

behalf.  He  gave  you  a  check  the  other  night.  Have 
you  cashed  it  yet  ?  " 

"  No.     I  imagined  he  might  want  to  redeem  it." 

**  He  does ;  but,  to  begin  with,  I'd  Hke  to  know  how 
much  he  lost  before  he  staked  the  check.  I  under- 
stand he  increased  the  original  stakes  during  the 
game." 

"  I  dare  say  I  could  tell  you,  but  I  don't  see  your 
object." 

"  I'll  explain  it  soon.  We  can't  get  on  until  I  know 
the  sum." 

Kenwardine  took  a  small,  card-scoring  book  from 
a  drawer,  and  after  a  few  moments  stated  the  amount 
Jake  had  lost. 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Dick.  "  I'll  pay  you  the  money 
now  in  exchange  for  the  check." 

"  But  he  lost  the  check  as  well." 

Dick  hesitated.  He  had  a  repugnant  part  to  play, 
since  he  must  accuse  the  man  who  had  taken  him  into 
his  house  when  he  was  wounded  of  conspiring  to  rob 
a  drunken  lad.  For  all  that,  his  benefactor's  son 
should  not  be  ruined,  and  he  meant  to  separate  him 
from  Kenwardine. 

"  I  think  not,"  he  answered  coolly.  "  But  suppose 
we  let  that  go  ?  The  check  is  worthless,  because  pay- 
ment can  be  stopped,  but  I'm  willing  to  give  you  what 
Fuller  had  already  lost." 

Kenwardine  raised  his  eyebrows  in  ironical  sur- 
prise. "  This  is  a  somewhat  extraordinary  course.  Is 
Mr.  Fuller  in  the  habit  of  disowning  his  debts?  You 
know  the  rule  about  a  loss  at  cards." 

"Fuller  has  left  the  thing  in  my  hands,  and  you 


170    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

must  hold  me  responsible.  I  mean  to  stick  to  the  line 
I've  taken." 

"  Then  perhaps  you  won't  mind  explaining  on  what 
grounds  you  take  it." 

"  Since  you  insist !  Fuller  was  drunk  when  he  made 
the  bet.  As  you  were  his  host,  it  was  your  duty  to 
stop  the  game." 

"  The  exact  point  when  an  excited  young  man  ceases 
to  be  sober  is  remarkably  hard  to  fix,"  Kenwardine 
answered  dryly.  "  It  would  be  awkward  for  the  host 
if  he  fixed  it  too  soon,  and  insulting  to  the  guest." 

"  That's  a  risk  you  should  have  taken.  For  an- 
other thing,  Fuller  states  that  a  trump  was  played 
by  a  man  who  ought  not  to  have  had  it." 

Kenwardine  smiled.  "  Doesn't  it  strike  you  that 
you're  urging  conflicting  reasons?  First  you  declare 
that  Fuller  was  drunk,  and  then  that  he  was  able  to 
detect  clever  players  at  cheating.  Your  argument  con- 
tradicts itself  and  is  plainly  absurd." 

"  Anyhow,  I  mean  to  urge  it,"  Dick  said  doggedly. 

"  Well,"  said  Kenwardine  with  a  steady  look,  "  I've 
no  doubt  you  see  what  this  implies.  You  charge  me 
with  a  plot  to  intoxicate  your  friend  and  take  a  mean 
advantage  of  his  condition." 

"  No ;  I  don't  go  so  far.  I  think  you  should  have 
stopped  the  game,  but  Fuller  accuses  a  man  called 
Black  of  playing  the  wrong  card.  In  fact,  I  admit 
that  you  don't  mean  to  harm  him,  by  taking  it  for 
granted  that  you'll  let  me  have  the  check,  because  if 
you  kept  it,  you'd  have  some  hold  on  him." 

"  A  firm  hold,"  Kenwardine  remarked. 

Dick  had  partly  expected  this,  and  had  his  answer 
ready.     "  Not  so  firm  as  you  think.     If  there  was  no 


JAKE  GETS  INTO  DIFFICULTIES    171 

other  way,  it  would  force  me  to  stop  payment  and 
inform  my  employer.  It  would  be  much  better  that 
Jake  should  have  to  deal  with  his  father  than  with 
your  friends." 

"  You  seem  to  have  thought  over  the  matter  care- 
fully," Kenwardine  rejoined.  "  Well,  personally,  I'm 
willing  to  accept  your  offer  and  give  up  the  check; 
but  I  must  consult  the  others,  since  their  loss  is  as 
much  as  mine.  Will  you  wait  while  I  go  to  the  tele- 
phone ?  " 

Dick  waited  for  some  time,  after  which  Kenwardine 
came  back  and  gave  him  the  check.  As  soon  as  be- 
got it  Dick  left  the  house,  satisfied  because  he  had 
done  what  he  had  meant  to  do,  and  yet  feeling  doubt- 
ful. Kenwardine  had  given  way  too  easily.  It 
looked  as  if  he  was  not  convinced  that  he  must  leave 
Fuller  alone. 

On  reaching  the  dam  Dick  gave  Take  the  check  and 
told  him  how  he  had  got  it.  The  lad  flushed  angrily, 
but  was  silent  for  a  moment,  and  then  gave  Dick  a 
curious  look. 

"  I  can't  deny  your  generosity,  and  I'll  pay  you 
back;  but  you  see  the  kind  of  fellow  you  make  me 
out." 

"  I  told  Kenwardine  you  left  me  to  deal  with  the 
matter,  and  the  plan  was  mine,"  said  Dick. 

Jake  signified  by  a  gesture  that  the  subject  must 
be  dropped.  "  As  I  did  agree  to  leave  it  to  you,  I 
can't  object.     After  all,  I  expect  you  meant  well." 


CHAPTER  XVII 

THE   BLACK-FUNNEL   BOAT 

THE  breeze  had  fallen  and  the  shining  sea  was 
smooth  as  glass  when  the  launch  passed  Adexe. 
Dick,  who  lounged  at  the  helm,  was  not  going  there. 
Some  alterations  to  a  mole  along  the  coast  had  just 
been  finished,  and  Stuyvesant  had  sent  him  to  engage 
the  contractor  who  had  done  the  concrete  work.  Jake, 
who  occasionally  found  his  duties  irksome,  had  in- 
sisted on  coming. 

As  they  crossed  the  mouth  of  the  inlet,  Dick  glanced 
shorewards  through  his  glasses.  The  white-washed 
coal-sheds  glistened  dazzlingly,  and  a  fringe  of  snowy 
surf  marked  the  curve  of  beach,  but  outside  this  a 
belt  of  cool,  blue  water  extended  to  the  wharf.  The 
swell  surged  to  and  fro  among  the  piles,  checkered 
with  purple  shadows  and  laced  with  threads  of  foam, 
but  it  was  the  signs  of  human  activity  that  occupied 
Dick's  attention.  He  noticed  the  cloud  of  dust  that 
rolled  about  the  mounds  of  coal  upon  the  wharf  and 
blurred  the  figures  of  the  toiling  peons,  and  the  way 
the  tubs  swung  up  and  down  from  the  hatches  of  an 
American  collier  until  the  rattle  of  her  winches  sud- 
denly broke  off. 

"  They  seem  to  be  doing  a  big  business,"  he  re- 
marked. "  It  looks  as  if  that  boat  had  stopped  dis- 
charging, but  she  must  have  landed  a  large  quantity 
of  coal." 

172 


THE  BLACK-FUNNEL  BOAT         173 

"  There's  pretty  good  shelter  at  Adexe,"  Jake  re- 
pHed.  "  In  ordinary  weather,  steamers  can  come  up 
to  the  wharf,  instead  of  lying  a  quarter  of  a  mile  off, 
as  they  do  at  Santa  Brigida.  However,  there's  not 
much  cargo  shipped,  and  a  captain  who  wanted  his 
bunkers  filled  would  have  to  make  a  special  call  with 
little  chance  of  picking  up  any  freight.  That  must 
tell  against  the  place." 

They  were  not  steaming  fast,  and  just  before  a  pro- 
jecting point  shut  in  the  inlet  the  deep  blast  of  a 
whistle  rang  across  the  water  and  the  collier's  dark 
hull  swung  out  from  the  wharf.  A  streak  of  foam, 
cut  sharply  between  her  black  side  and  the  shadowed 
blue  of  the  sea,  marked  her  load-line,  and  she  floated 
high,  but  not  as  if  she  were  empty. 

"  Going  on  somewhere  else  to  finish,  I  guess,"  said 
Jake.  "  How  much  do  you  reckon  she  has  dis- 
charged ?  " 

"  Fifteen  hundred  tons,  if  she  was  full  when  she 
came  in,  and  I  imagine  they  hadn't  much  room  in  the 
sheds  before.  I  wonder  where  Kenwardine  gets  the 
money,  unless  his  friend,  Richter,  is  rich." 

"  Richter  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  business,"  Jake 
replied.  "  He  was  to  have  had  a  share,  but  they 
couldn't  come  to  a  satisfactory  agreement." 

Dick  looked  at  him  sharply,  "  How  do  you 
know?  " 

"  I  really  don't  know  much.  Kenwardine  said 
something  about  it  one  rfight  when  I  was  at  his  house." 

"  Did  somebody  ask  him  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  Jake,  *'  I  don't  think  so.  The  subject, 
so  to  speak,  cropped  up  and  he  offered  us  the  informa- 
tion." 


174    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

Then  he  talked  of  something  else  and  soon  after- 
wards the  coast  receded  as  they  crossed  a  wide  bay. 
It  was  about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  when  they 
reached  the  farthest  point  from  land.  There  was  no 
wind,  and  in  the  foreground  the  sea  ran  in  long  un- 
dulations whose  backs  blazed  with  light.  Farther  off, 
the  gentle  swell  was  smoothed  out  and  became  an 
oily  expanse  that  faded  into  the  glitter  on  the  horizon, 
but  at  one  point  the  latter  was  faintly  blurred.  A 
passing  vessel,  Dick  thought,  and  occupied  himself 
with  the  engine,  for  he  had  not  brought  the  fireman. 
Looking  round  some  time  afterwards,  he  saw  that 
the  ship  had  got  more  distinct  and  picked  up  his 
glasses. 

She  was  a  two-masted  steamer  and,  cut  off  by  the 
play  of  reflected  light,  floated  like  a  mirage  between 
sky  and  sea.  After  studying  her  for  a  minute,  Dick 
gave  Jake  the  glasses. 

"  It's  a  curious  effect,  but  not  uncommon  on  a  day 
like  this,"  he  said.  "  She's  like  the  big  Spanish  boats 
and  has  their  tall  black  funnel." 

"  She's  very  like  them,"  Jake  agreed.  "  There's  no 
smoke,  and  no  wash  about  her.  It  looks  as  if  they'd 
had  some  trouble  in  the  engine-room  and  she'd 
stopped." 

Dick  nodded  and  glanced  across  the  dazzling  water 
towards  the  high,  blue  coast.  He  did  not  think  the 
steamer  could  be  seen  from  the  land,  and  the  launch 
would,  no  doubt,  be  invisible  from  her  deck,  but  this 
was  not  important  and  he  began  to  calculate  how  long 
it  would  take  them  to  reach  a  point  ahead.  Some 
time  later,  he  looked  round  again.  The  steamer  was 
fading  in  the  distance,  but  no  smoke  trailed  behind 


THE  BLACK-FUNNEL  BOAT         175 

her  and  he  did  not  think  she  had  started  yet.  His  at- 
tention, however,  was  occupied  by  the  headland  he  was 
steering  for,  because  he  thought  it  marked  the  neigh- 
borhood of  their  port. 

He  spent  an  hour  in  the  place  before  he  finished  his 
business  and  started  home,  and  when  they  were  about 
half-way  across  the  bay  the  light  began  to  fade.  The 
sun  had  sunk  and  the  high  land  cut,  harshly  blue, 
against  a  saffron  glow;  the  sea  was  shadowy  and 
colorless  in  the  east.  Presently  Jake,  who  sat  facing 
aft,  called  out : 

"  There's  a  steamer's  masthead  light  coming  up 
astern  of  us.  Now  I  see  her  side  lights,  and  by  the 
distance  between  them  she's  a  big  boat." 

Dick  changed  his  course,  because  the  steamer's  three 
lights  would  not  have  been  visible  unless  she  was  di- 
rectly following  him  and  the  launch's  small  yellow 
funnel  and  dingy  white  topsides  would  be  hard  to  dis- 
tinguish. When  he  had  shut  out  one  of  the  colored 
side  lights  and  knew  he  was  safe,  he  stopped  the  en- 
gine to  wait  until  the  vessel  passed.  There  was  no 
reason  why  he  should  do  so,  but  somehow  he  felt  in- 
terested in  the  ship.  Lighting  his  pipe,  he  studied 
her  through  the  glasses,  which  he  gave  to  Jake, 

"  She's  the  boat  we  saw  before,"  he  said. 

"  That's  so,"  Jake  agreed.  "  Her  engines  are  all 
right  now  because  she's  steaming  fast." 

Dick  nodded,  for  he  had  marked  the  mass  of  foam 
that  curled  and  broke  away  beneath  the  vessel's  bow, 
but  Jake  resumed :  "  It  looks  as  if  her  dynamo  had 
stopped.  There's  nothing  to  be  seen  but  her  naviga- 
tion lights  and  she's  certainly  a  passenger  boat.  They 
generally  glitter  like  a  gin-saloon." 


176    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

The  ship  was  getting  close  now  and  Dick,  who 
asked  for  the  glasses,  examined  her  carefully  as  she 
came  up,  foreshortened,  on  their  quarter.  Her  dark 
bow  looked  very  tall  and  her  funnel  loomed,  huge 
and  shadowy,  against  the  sky.  Above  its  top  the 
masthead  light  shed  a  yellow  glimmer,  and  far  be- 
low, the  sea  leapt  and  frothed  about  the  line  of  hull. 
This  drew  out  and  lengthened  as  she  came  abreast 
of  them,  but  now  he  could  see  the  tiers  of  passenger 
decks,  one  above  the  other,  there  was  something  mys- 
terious in  the  gloom  that  reigned  on  board.  No  ring 
of  light  pierced  her  long  dark  side  and  the  gangways 
behind  the  rails  and  rows  of  stanchions  looked  like 
shadowy  caves.  In  the  open  spaces,  forward  and  aft, 
however,  bodies  of  men  were  gathered,  their  clothes 
showing  faintly  white,  but  they  stood  still  in  a  com- 
pact mass  until  a  whistle  blew  and  the  indistinct  fig- 
ures scattered  across  the  deck. 

"  A  big  crew,"  Jake  remarked.  "  Guess  they've 
been  putting  them  through  a  boat  or  fire  drill." 

Dick  did  not  answer,  but  when  the  vessel  faded  into 
a  hazy  mass  ahead  he  started  the  engine  and  steered 
into  her  eddying  wake,  which  ran  far  back  into  the 
dark.  Then  after  a  glance  at  the  compass,  he  beck- 
oned Jake.     "  Look  how  she's  heading." 

Jake  told  him  and  he  nodded.  "  I  made  it  half  a 
point  more  to  port,  but  this  compass  swivels  rather 
wildly.     Where  do  you  think  she's  bound  ?  " 

"  To  Santa  Brigida ;  but,  as  you  can  see,  not  direct. 
I  expect  her  skipper  wants  to  take  a  bearing  from  the 
Adexe  lights.  You  are  going  there  and  her  course  is 
the  same  as  ours." 

"  No,"  said  Dick ;  "  I'm  edging  in  towards  the  land 


THE  BLACK-FUNNEL  BOAT         177 

rather  short  of  Adexe.  As  we  have  the  current  on 
our  bow,  I  want  to  get  hold  of  the  beach  as  soon  as 
I  can,  for  the  sake  of  slacker  water.  Anyway,  a  big 
boat  would  keep  well  dear  of  the  shore  until  she  passed 
the  Tajada  reef." 

"  Then  she  may  be  going  into  Adexe  for  coal." 

"  That  vessel  wouldn't  float  alongside  the  wharf, 
and  her  skipper  would  sooner  fill  his  bunkers  where 
he'd  get  passengers  and  freight." 

"  Well,  I  expect  we'll  find  her  at  Santa  Brigida  when 
we  arrive." 

They  looked  round,  but  the  sea  was  now  dark  and 
empty  and  they  let  the  matter  drop.  When  they 
crossed  the  Adexe  bight  no  steamer  was  anchored 
near,  but  a  cluster  of  lights  on  the  dusky  beach  marked 
the  coaling  wharf. 

"  They're  working  late,"  Dick  said.  "  Can  you  see 
the  tug?" 

"  You'd  have  to  run  close  in  before  you  could  do 
so,"  Jake  replied.  "  I  expect  they're  trimming  the 
coal  the  collier  landed  into  the  sheds." 

"  It's  possible,"  Dick  agreed,  and  after  hesitating 
for  a  few  moments  held  on  his  course.  He  remem- 
bered that  one  can  hear  a  launch's  engines  and  the 
splash  of  torn-up  water  for  some  distance  on  a  calm 
night. 

After  a  time,  the  lights  of  Santa  Brigida  twinkled 
ahead,  and  when  they  steamed  up  to  the  harbor  both 
looked  about.  The  American  collier  and  a  big  cargo- 
boat  lay  with  the  reflections  of  their  anchor-lights 
quivering  on  the  swell,  but  there  was  no  passenger 
liner  to  be  seen.     A  man  came  to  moor  the  launch 


178    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

when  they  landed,  and  Jake  asked  if  the  vessel  he  de- 
scribed had  called. 

"  No,  sefior,"  said  the  man.  "  The  only  boats  I 
know  like  that  are  the  Cadiz  liners,  and  the  next  is  not 
due  for  a  fortnight." 

"  Her  model's  a  pretty  common  one  for  big  pas- 
senger craft,"  Jake  remarked  to  Dick  as  they  went 
up  the  mole.  "  Still,  the  thing's  curious.  She  wasn't 
at  Adexe  and  she  hasn't  been  here.  She  certainly 
passed  us,  steering  for  the  land,  and  I  don't  see  where 
she  could  have  gone." 

Dick  began  to  talk  about  something  else,  but  next 
morning  asked  Stuyvesant  for  a  day's  leave.  Stuy- 
vesant  granted  it  and  Dick  resumed :  "  Do  you  mind 
giving  me  a  blank  order  form?  I'm  going  to  Adexe, 
and  the  storekeeper  wants  a  few  things  we  can't  get  in 
Santa  Brigida." 

Stuyvesant  signed  the  form.  "  There  it  is.  The 
new  coaling  people  seem  an  enterprising  crowd,  and 
you  can  order  anything  they  can  supply." 

Dick  hired  a  mule  and  took  the  steep  inland  road; 
but  on  reaching  Adexe  went  first  to  the  sugar  mill  and 
spent  an  hour  with  the  American  engineer,  whose  ac- 
quaintance he  had  made.  Then,  having,  as  he  thought, 
accounted  for  his  visit,  he  went  to  the  wharf  and 
carefully  looked  about  as  he  made  his  way  to  the  man- 
ager's office. 

A  few  grimy  peons  were  brushing  coal-dust  off  the 
planks,  their  thinly-clad  forms  silhouetted  against  the 
shining  sea.  Their  movements  were  languid,  and  Dick 
wondered  whether  this  was  due  to  the  heat  or  if  it 
was  accotmted  for  by  forced  activity  on  the  previous 


THE  BLACK-FUNNEL  BOAT         179 

night.  A  neatly  built  stack  of  coal  stood  beside  the 
whitewashed  sheds,  but  nothing  suggested  that  it  had 
been  recently  broken  into.  Passing  it  carelessly  Dick 
glanced  into  the  nearest  shed,  which  was  almost  full, 
though  its  proximity  to  deep  water  indicated  that 
supplies  would  be  drawn  from  it  before  the  other. 
Feeling  rather  puzzled,  he  stopped  in  front  of  the 
next  shed  and  noted  that  there  was  much  less  coal  in 
this.  Moreover,  a  large  number  of  empty  bags  lay 
near  the  entrance,  as  if  they  had  been  used  recently 
and  the  storekeeper  had  not  had  time  to  put  them 
away. 

Two  men  were  folding  up  the  bags,  but,  by  con- 
trast with  the  glitter  outside,  the  shed  was  dark,  and 
Dick's  eyes  were  not  accustomed  to  the  gloom.  Still 
he  thought  one  of  the  men  was  Oliva,  the  contractor 
whom  Stuyvesant  had  dismissed.  Next  moment  the 
fellow  turned  and  threw  a  folded  bag  aside,  after 
which  he  walked  towards  the  other  end  of  the  shed. 
His  movements  were  leisurely,  but  he  kept  his  back 
to  Dick  and  the  latter  thought  this  significant,  although 
he  was  not  sure  the  man  had  seen  him. 

As  he  did  not  want  to  be  seen  loitering  about  the 
sheds,  he  walked  on,  feeling  puzzled.  Since  he  did 
not  know  what  stock  the  company  had  held,  it  was 
difficult  to  tell  if  coal  had  recently  been  shipped,  but 
he  imagined  that  some  must  have  left  the  wharf  after 
the  collier  had  unloaded.  He  was  used  to  calculating 
weights  and  cubic  quantities,  and  the  sheds  were  not 
large.  Taking  it  for  granted  that  the  vessel  had 
landed  one  thousand  five  hundred  tons,  he  thought 
there  ought  to  be  more  about  than  he  could  see.     Still, 


i8o    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

if  some  had  been  shipped,  he  could  not  understand 
why  it  had  been  taken,  at  a  greater  cost  for  labor,  from 
the  last  shed,  where  one  would  expect  the  company 
to  keep  their  reserve  supply.  He  might,  perhaps,  find 
out  something  from  the  manager,  but  this  would  need 
tact. 

Entering  the  small,  hot  office,  he  found  a  suave 
Spanish  gentleman  whom  he  had  already  met.  The 
latter  greeted  him  politely  and  gave  him  a  cigar. 

"It  is  not  often  you  leave  the  works,  but  a  change 
is  good,"  he  said. 

"  We're  not  quite  so  busy  and  I  promised  to  pay 
Allen  at  the  sugar  mill  a  visit,"  Dick  replied.  "  Be- 
sides, I  had  an  excuse  for  the  trip.  We're  short  of 
some  engine  stores  that  I  dare  say  you  can  let  us 
have." 

He  gave  the  manager  a  list,  and  the  Spaniard  nodded 
as  he  marked  the  items. 

"  We  can  send  you  most  of  the  things.  It  pays  us 
to  stock  goods  that  the  engineers  of  the  ships  we  coal 
often  want;  but  there  are  some  we  have  not  got." 

"  Very  well,"  said  Dick.  "  I'll  fill  up  our  form  for 
what  you  have  and  you  can  put  the  things  on  board 
the  tug  the  first  time  she  goes  to  Santa  Brigida." 

"  She  will  go  in  three  or  four  days." 

Dick  decided  that  as  the  launch  had  probably  been 
seen,  he  had  better  mention  his  voyage. 

"  That  will  be  soon  enough.  If  our  storekeeper  had 
told  me  earlier,  I  would  have  called  here  yesterday. 
I  passed  close  by  on  my  way  to  Orava." 

"  One  of  the  peons  saw  your  boat.  It  is  some  dis- 
tance to  Orava." 


THE  BLACK-FUNNEL  BOAT         181 

"  The  sea  was  very  smooth,"  said  Dick.  "  I  went 
to  engage  a  contractor  who  had  been  at  work  upon  the 
mole." 

So  far,  conversation  had  been  easy,  and  he  had 
satisfactorily  accounted  for  his  passing  the  wharf,  with- 
out, he  hoped,  appearing  anxious  to  do  so ;  but  he  had 
learned  nothing  yet,  although  he  thought  the  Spaniard 
was  more  interested  in  his  doings  than  he  looked. 

"  The  collier  was  leaving  as  we  went  by,"  he  re- 
sumed. "  Trade  must  be  good,  because  she  seemed 
to  have  unloaded  a  large  quantity  of  coal." 

"  Sixteen  hundred  tons,"  said  the  manager.  "  In 
war  time,  when  freights  advance,  it  is  wise  to  keep  a 
good  stock." 

As  this  was  very  nearly  the  quantity  Dick  had 
guessed,  he  noted  the  man's  frankness,  but  somehow 
imagined  it  was  meant  to  hide  something. 

"  So  long  as  you  can  sell  the  stock,"  he  agreed. 
"  War,  however,  interferes  with  trade,  and  the  French 
line  have  reduced  their  sailings,  while  I  expect  the 
small  British  tramps  won't  be  so  numerous." 

"  They  have  nothing  to  fear  in  these  waters." 

"  I  suppose  they  haven't,  and  vessels  belonging  to 
neutral  countries  ought  to  be  safe,"  said  Dick.  "  Still, 
the  Spanish  company  seem  to  have  changed  their  sail- 
ings, because  I  thought  I  saw  one  of  their  boats  yes- 
terday; but  she  was  a  long  way  off  on  the  horizon." 

He  thought  the  other  gave  him  a  keen  glance,  but 
as  the  shutters  were  partly  closed  the  light  was  not 
good,  and  the  man  answered  carelessly : 

"  They  do  not  deal  with  us.  Adexe  is  off  their 
course  and  no  boats  so  large  can  come  up  to  the 
wharf." 


i82    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

"  Well,"  said  Dick,  who  believed  he  had  admitted 
enough  to  disarm  any  suspicion  the  other  might  have 
entertained,  "  doesn't  coal  that's  kept  exposed  to  the 
air  lose  some  of  its  heating  properties?  " 

"  It  does  not  suffer  much  damage.  But  we  will 
drink  a  glass  of  wine,  and  then  I  will  show  you  how 
we  keep  our  coal." 

"  Thanks.  These  things  interest  me,  but  I  looked 
into  the  sheds  as  I  passed,"  Dick  answered  as  he  drank 
his  wine. 

They  went  out  and  when  they  entered  the  first  shed 
the  Spaniard  called  a  peon  and  gave  him  an  order 
Dick  did  not  catch.  Then  he  showed  Dick  the  cranes, 
and  the  trucks  that  ran  along  .the  wharf  on  rails,  and 
how  they  weighed  the  bags  of  coal.  After  a  time 
they  went  into  a  shed  that  was  nearly  empty  and  Dick 
carefully  looked  about.  Several  peons  were  at  work 
upon  the  bags,  but  Oliva  was  not  there.  Dick  won- 
dered whether  he  had  been  warned  to  keep  out  of 
sight. 

As  they  went  back  to  the  office,  his  companion 
looked  over  the  edge  of  the  wharf  and  spoke  to  a 
seaman  on  the  tug  below.  Her  fires  were  out  and 
the  hammering  that  came  up  through  the  open  sky- 
lights indicated  that  work  was  being  done  in  her  en- 
gine-room. Then  one  of  the  workmen  seemed  to  ob- 
ject to  something  another  said,  for  Dick  heard  "  No ; 
it  must  be  tightened.     It  knocked  last  night." 

He  knew  enough  Castilian  to  feel  sure  he  had  not 
been  mistaken,  and  the  meaning  of  what  he  had  heard 
was  plain.  A  shaft- journal  knocks  when  the  bear- 
ings it  revolves  in  have  worn  or  shaken  loose,  and  the 
machinery  must  have  been  running  when  the  engineer 


THE  BLACK-FUNNEL  BOAT         183 

heard  the  noise.  Dick  thought  it  better  to  light  a 
cigarette,  and  was  occupied  shielding  the  match  with 
his  hands  when  the  manager  turned  round.  A  few 
minutes  later  he  stated  that  as  it  was  a  long  way  to 
Santa  Brigida  he  must  start  soon  and  after  some  Span- 
ish compliments  the  other  let  him  go. 

He  followed  the  hill  road  slowly  in  a  thoughtful 
mood.  The  manager  had  been  frank,  but  Dick  sus- 
pected him  of  trying  to  show  that  he  had  nothing  to 
hide.  Then  he  imagined  that  a  quantity  of  coal  had 
been  shipped  since  the  previous  day,  and  if  the  tug 
had  been  at  sea  at  night,  she  must  have  been  used  for 
towing  lighters.  The  large  vessel  he  had  seen  was 
obviously  a  passenger  boat,  but  fast  liners  could  be 
converted  into  auxiliary  cruisers.  There  were,  how- 
ever, so  far  as  he  knew,  no  enemy  cruisers  in  the  neigh- 
borhood; indeed,  it  was  supposed  that  they  had  been 
chased  off  the  seas.  Still,  there  was  something  mys- 
terious about  the  matter,  and  he  meant  to  watch  the 
coaling  company  and  Kenwardine. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

DICK   GETS   A   WARNING 

ON  the  evening  of  one  pay-day,  Dick  took  a  short 
cut  through  the  half-breed  quarter  of  Santa 
Brigida.  As  not  infrequently  happens  in  old  Span- 
ish cities,  this  unsavory  neighborhood  surrounded  the 
cathedral  and  corresponded  in  character  with  the  lo- 
calities known  in  western  America  as  "  across  the 
track."  Indeed,  a  Castilian  proverb  bluntly  plays 
upon  the  juxtaposition  of  vice  and  bells. 

Ancient  houses  rose  above  the  dark  and  narrow 
street.  Flakes  of  plaster  had  fallen  from  their  blank 
walls,  the  archways  that  pierced  them  were  foul  and 
strewn  with  refuse,  and  a  sour  smell  of  decay  and 
garbage  tainted  the  stagnant  air.  Here  and  there  a 
grossly  fat,  slatternly  woman  leaned  upon  the  rails  of 
an  outside  balcony;  negroes,  Chinamen,  and  half- 
breeds  passed  along  the  broken  pavements;  and  the 
dirty,  open-fronted  wine-shops,  where  swarms  of  flies 
hovered  about  the  tables,  were  filled  with  loungers  of 
different  shades  of  color. 

By  and  by  Dick  noticed  a  man  in  clean  white  duck 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street.  He  was  a  short 
distance  in  front,  but  his  carriage  and  the  fit  of  his 
clothes  indicated  that  he  was  a  white  man  and  prob- 
ably an  American,  and  Dick  slackened  his  pace.     He 


DICK  GETS  A  WARNING  185 

imagined  that  the  other  would  sooner  not  be  found 
in  that  neighborhood  if  he  happened  to  be  an  ac- 
quaintance. The  fellow,  however,  presently  crossed 
the  street,  and  when  he  stopped  and  looked  about, 
Dick,  meeting  him  face  to  face,  saw  with  some  sur- 
prise that  it  was  Kemp,  the  fireman,  who  had  shown 
him  an  opportunity  of  escaping  from  the  steamer  that 
took  them  South. 

Kemp  had  turned  out  a  steady,  sober  man,  and 
Dick,  who  had  got  him  promoted,  wondered  what  he 
was  doing  there,  though  he  reflected  that  his  own  pres- 
ence in  the  disreputable  locality  was  liable  to  be  mis- 
understood. Kemp,  however,  looked  at  him  with  a 
twinkle. 

"  I  guess  you're  making  for  the  harbor,  Mr.  Bran- 
don?" 

Dick  said  he  was,  and  Kemp  studied  the  surround- 
ing houses. 

"  Well,"  he  resumed,  "  I'm  certainly  up  against  it 
now.  I  don't  know  much  Spanish,  and  these  fool 
dagos  can't  talk  American,  while  they're  packed  so 
tight  in  their  blamed  tenements  that  it's  curious  they 
don't  fall  out  of  the  windows.  It's  a  tough  proposi- 
tion to  locate  a  man  here." 

"  Then  you're  looking  for  somebody  ?  " 

"  Yes.  I've  tracked  Payne  to  this  calle,  but  I  guess 
there's  some  trailing  down  to  be  done  yet." 

"  Ah ! "  said  Dick ;  for  Payne  was  the  dismissed 
storekeeper.     "  Why  do  you  want  him  ?  " 

"  I  met  him  a  while  back  and  he'd  struck  bad  luck, 
hurt  his  arm,  for  one  thing.  He'd  been  working 
among  the  breeds  on  the  mole  and  living  in  their  tene- 
ments, and  couldn't  strike  another  job.     I  reckoned 


i86    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

he  might  want  a  few  dollars,  and  I  don't  spend  all  my 
pay." 

Dick  nodded,  because  he  understood  the  unfortu- 
nate position  of  the  white  man  who  loses  caste  in  a 
tropical  country.  An  Englishman  or  American  may 
engage  in  manual  labor  where  skill  is  required  and  the 
pay  is  high,  but  he  must  live  up  to  the  standards  of 
his  countrymen.  If  forced  to  work  with  natives  and 
adopt  their  mode  of  life,  he  risks  being  distrusted  and 
avoided  by  men  of  his  color.  Remembering  that 
Payne  had  interfered  when  he  was  stabbed,  Dick  had 
made  some  inquiries  about  him,  but  getting  no  infor- 
mation decided  that  he  had  left  the  town. 

"  Then  he's  lodging  in  this  street,"  he  said. 

"  That's  what  they  told  me  at  the  wine-shop.  He 
had  to  quit  the  last  place  because  he  couldn't  pay." 

"  Wasn't  he  with  Oliva  ?  "  Dick  inquired. 

"  He  was,  but  Oliva  turned  him  down.  I  allow  it 
was  all  right  to  fire  him,  but  he's  surely  up  against  it 
now." 

Dick  put  his  hand  in  his  pocket.  "If  you  find  him, 
you  might  let  me  know.  In  the  meantime,  here's  five 
dollars " 

"  Hold  on ! "  said  Kemp.  "  Don't  take  out  your 
wallet  here.  I'll  fix  the  thing,  and  ask  for  the  money 
when  I  get  back." 

Dick  left  him.,  and  when  he  had  transacted  his  busi- 
ness returned  to  the  dam.  An  hour  or  two  later  Kemp 
arrived  and  stated  that  he  had  not  succeeded  in  finding 
Payne.  The  man  had  left  the  squalid  room  he  occu- 
pied and  nobody  knew  where  he  had  gone. 

During  the  next  week  Dick  had  again  occasion  to 
visit  the  harbor,  and  while  he  waited  on  the  mole  for 


DICK  GETS  A  WARNING  187 

a  boat  watched  a  gang  of  peons  unloading  some  fer- 
tilizer from  a  barge.  It  was  hard  and  unpleasant 
work,  for  the  stuff,  which  had  a  rank  smell,  escaped 
from  the  bags  and  covered  the  perspiring  men.  The 
dust  stuck  to  their  hot  faces,  almost  hiding  their  color; 
but  one,  though  equally  dirty,  looked  different  from 
the  rest,  and  Dick,  noting  that  he  only  used  his  left 
arm,  drew  nearer.  As  he  did  so,  the  man  walked  up 
the  steep  plank  from  the  lighter  with  a  bag  upon  his 
back  and  staggering  across  the  mole  dropped  it  with 
a  gasp.  His  heaving  chest  and  set  face  showed  what 
the  effort  had  cost,  and  the  smell  of  the  fertilizer  hung 
about  his  ragged  clothes.  Dick  saw  that  it  was  Payne 
and  that  the  fellow  knew  him. 

"  You  have  got  a  rough  job,"  he  remarked.  "  Can't 
you  find  something  better?  " 

"  Nope,"  said  the  man  grimly.  "  Do  you  reckon 
I'd  pack  dirt  with  a  crowd  like  this  if  I  could  help 
it?" 

Dick,  who  glanced  at  the  lighter,  where  half -naked 
negroes  and  mulattos  were  at  work  amid  a  cloud  of 
nauseating  dust,  understood  the  social  degradation  the 
other  felt. 

"  What's  the  matter  with  your  arm  ?  "  he  asked. 

Payne  pulled  up  his  torn  sleeve  and  showed  an  in- 
flamed and  half-healed  wound. 

"  That !  Got  it  nipped  in  a  crane-wheel  and  it 
doesn't  get  much  better.  Guess  this  dirt  is  poisonous. 
Anyway,  it  keeps  me  here.  I've  been  trying  to  make 
enough  to  buy  a  ticket  to  Jamaica,  but  can't  work 
steady.  As  soon  as  I've  put  up  two  or  three  dollars, 
I  have  to  quit." 

Dick  could  understand  this.     The  man  looked  gaunt 


i88    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

and  ill  and  must  have  been  heavily  handicapped  by  his 
injured  arm.  He  did  not  seem  anxious  to  excite 
Dick's  pity,  though  the  latter  did  not  think  he  cher- 
ished much  resentment. 

"  I  tried  to  find  you  when  I  got  better  after  being 
stabbed,"  he  said.  "  I  don't  quite  see  why  you  came 
to  my  help." 

Payne  grinned  sourly.  "  You  certainly  hadn't 
much  of  a  claim;  but  you  were  a  white  man  and  that 
dago  meant  to  kill.  Now  if  I'd  held  my  job  with 
Fuller  and  you  hadn't  dropped  on  to  diva's  game, 
I'd  have  made  my  little  pile;  but  I  allow  you  had  to 
fire  us  when  something  put  you  wise." 

"  I  see,"  said  Dick,  with  a  smile  at  the  fellow's  can- 
dor. "  Well,  I  couldn't  trust  you  with  the  cement 
again,  but  we're  short  of  a  man  to  superintend  a  peon 
gang  and  I'll  talk  to  Mr.  Stuyvesant  about  it  if  you'll 
tell  me  your  address." 

Payne  gave  him  a  fixed,  eager  look.  "  You  get  me 
the  job  and  take  me  out  of  this  and  you  won't  be  sorry. 
I'll  make  it  good  to  you  —  and  I  reckon  I  can." 

Dick,  who  thought  the  other's  anxiety  to  escape 
from  his  degrading  occupation  had  prompted  his  last 
statement,  turned  away,  saying  he  would  see  what 
could  be  done,  and  in  the  evening  visited  Stuyvesant. 
Bethune  was  already  with  him,  and  Dick  told  them 
how  he  had  found  Payne. 

"  You  felt  you  had  to  promise  the  fellow  a  job  be- 
cause he  butted  in  when  the  dagos  got  after  you  ?  " 
Stuyvesant  suggested. 

"No,"  said  Dick  with  some  embarrassment,  "it 
wasn't  altogether  that.  He  certainly  did  help  me,  but 
I  can't  pass  my  obligations  on  to  my  employer.     If 


DICK  GETS  A  WARNING  189 

you  think  he  can't  be  trusted,  I'll  pay  his  passage  to 
another  port." 

"  Well,  I  don't  know  that  if  I  had  the  option  I'd 
take  the  fellow  out  of  jail,  so  long  as  he  was  shut  up 
decently  out  of  sight;  but  this  is  worse,  in  a  way. 
What  do  you  think,  Bethune?  " 

Bethune  smiled.  "  You  ought  to  know.  I'm  a  bit 
of  a  philosopher,  but  when  you  stir  my  racial  feel- 
ings I'm  an  American  first.  The  mean  white's  a  trou- 
blesome proposition  at  home,  but  we  can't  afford  to 
exhibit  him  to  the  dagos  here."  He  turned  to  Dick. 
"  That's  our  attitude,  Brandon,  and  though  you  were 
not  long  in  our  country,  you  seem  to  sympathize  with 
it.  I  don't  claim  it's  quite  logical,  but  there  it  is! 
We're  white  and  different." 

"Do  you  want  me  to  hire  the  man?"  Stuyvesant 
asked  with  an  impatient  gesture. 

"  Yes,"  said  Dick. 

"  Then  put  him  on.  If  he  steals  anything,  I'll  hold 
you  responsible  and  ship  him  out  on  the  next  cement 
boat,  whether  he  wants  to  go  or  not." 

Next  morning  Dick  sent  word  to  Payne,  who  ar- 
rived at  the  dam  soon  afterwards  and  did  his  work 
satisfactorily.  On  the  evening  of  the  first  pay-day 
he  went  to  Santa  Brigida,  but  Dick,  who  watched  him 
in  the  morning,  noted  somewhat  to  his  surprise,  that 
he  showed  no  signs  of  dissipation.  When  work 
stopped  at  noon  he  heard  a  few  pistol  shots,  but  was 
told  on  inquiring  that  it  was  only  one  or  two  of  the 
men  shooting  at  a  mark.  A  few  days  afterwards  he 
found  it  necessary  to  visit  Santa  Brigida.  Since 
Bethune  confined  his  talents  to  constructional  problems 
and  languidly  protested  that  he  had  no  aptitude  for 


igo    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

commerce,  much  of  the  company's  minor  business 
gradually  fell  into  Dick's  hands.  As  a  rule,  he  went 
to  the  town  in  the  evening,  after  he  had  finished  at 
the  dam.  While  a  hand-car  was  being  got  ready  to 
take  him  down  the  line,  Payne  came  up  to  the  veranda, 
where  Dick  sat  with  Jake. 

"  You're  going  down  town,  Mr.  Brandon,"  he  said. 
"  Have  you  got  a  gun  ?  " 

"  I  have  not,"  said  Dick. 

Payne  pulled  out  an  automatic  pistol.  "  Then 
you'd  better  take  mine.  I  bought  her,  second-hand, 
with  my  first  pay,  but  she's  pretty  good.  I  reckon 
you  can  shoot  ?  " 

"A  little,"  said  Dick,  who  had  practised  with  the 
British  army  revolver.     "  Still  I  don't  carry  a  pistol." 

"  You  ought,"  Payne  answered  meaningly,  and  walk- 
ing to  the  other  end  of  the  veranda  stuck  a  scrap  of 
white  paper  on  a  post.  "Say,  suppose  you  try  her? 
I  want  to  see  you  put  a  pill  through  that." 

Dick  was  surprised  by  the  fellow's  persistence,  but 
there  is  a  fascination  in  shooting  at  a  target,  and  when 
Jake  urged  him  he  took  the  pistol.  Steadying  it  with 
stiffened  wrist  and  forearm,  he  fired  but  hit  the  post 
a  foot  below  the  paper. 

"  You  haven't  allowed  for  the  pull-off,  and  you're 
slow,"  Payne  remarked.  "  You  want  to  sight  high, 
with  a  squeeze  on  the  trigger,  and  then  catch  her  on 
the  drop." 

He  took  the  pistol  and  fixed  his  eyes  on  the  paper 
before  he  moved.  Then  his  arm  went  up  suddenly 
and  the  glistening  barrel  pointed  above  the  mark. 
There  was  a  flash  as  his  wrist  dropped  and  a  black 
spot  appeared  near  the  middle  of  the  paper. 


DICK  GETS  A  WARNING  191 

"Use  her  like  that!  You'd  want  a  mighty  steady- 
hand  to  hold  her  dead  on  the  mark  while  you  pull 
off." 

"  Sit  down  and  tell  us  why  you  think  Mr.  Brandon 
ought  to  have  the  pistol,"  Jake  remarked.  "  I  go  to 
Santa  Brigida  now  and  then,  but  you  haven't  offered 
to  lend  it  me." 

Payne  sat  down  on  the  steps  and  looked  at  him  with 
a  smile.  "  You're  all  right,  Mr.  Fuller.  They're  not 
after  you." 

"  Then  you  reckon  it  wasn't  me  they  wanted  the 
night  my  partner  was  stabbed?     I  had  the  money." 

"  Nope,"  said  Payne  firmly.  "  I  allow  they'd  have 
corralled  the  dollars  if  they  could,  but  it  was  Mr. 
Brandon  they  meant  to  knock  out."  He  paused  and 
added  in  a  significant  tone :     "  They're  after  him  yet." 

"  Hadn't  you  better  tell  us  whom  you  mean  by 
*  they  '  ?  "  Dick  asked. 

"  Oliva's  gang.  There  are  toughs  in  the  city  who'd 
kill  you  for  fifty  cents." 

"  Does  that  account  for  your  buying  the  pistol  when 
you  came  here  ?  " 

"  It  does,"  Payne  admitted  dryly.  "  I  didn't  mean 
to  take  any  chances  when  it  looked  as  if  I  was  going 
back  on  my  dago  partner." 

"  He  turned  you  down  first,  and  I  don't  see  how  you 
could  harm  him  by  working  for  us." 

Payne  did  not  answer,  and  Dick,  who  thought  he 
was  pondering  something,  resumed :  "  These  half- 
breeds  are  a  revengeful  lot,  but  after  all,  Oliva 
wouldn't  run  a  serious  risk  without  a  stronger  motive 
than  he  seems  to  have." 

"  Well,"  said  Payne,  "  if  I  talked  Spanish,  I  could 


192    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

tell  you  more;  but  I  was  taking  my  siesta  one  day  in 
a  dark  wine-shop  when  two  or  three  hard-looking 
peons  came  in.  They  mayn't  have  seen  me,  because 
there  were  some  casks  in  the  way,  and  anyhow,  they'd 
reckon  I  couldn't  understand  them.  I  didn't  very 
well,  but  I  heard  your  name  and  caught  a  word  or 
two.  Their  patron  had  given  them  some  orders  and 
one  called  him  Don  Ramon.  You  were  to  be  watched, 
because  mirar  came  in;  but  I  didn't  get  the  rest  and 
they  went  out  soon.  I  lay  as  if  I  was  asleep,  but  I'd 
know  the  crowd  again."  Payne  got  up  as  he  con- 
cluded :  "  Anyway,  you  take  my  gun,  and  keep  in 
the  main  calks,  where  the  lights  are." 

When  he  had  gone  Jake  remarked :  "  I  guess  his 
advice  is  good  and  I'm  coming  along." 

"  No,"  said  Dick,  smiling  as  he  put  the  pistol  in  his 
pocket.  "  The  trouble  is  that  if  I  took  you  down  there 
I  mightn't  get  you  back.  Besides,  there  are  some  cal- 
culations I  want  you  to  make." 

Lighting  his  pipe,  he  took  his  seat  on  the  hand-car 
and  knitted  his  brows  as  two  colored  laborers  drove 
him  down  the  hill.  Below,  the  lights  of  Santa  Brigida 
gleamed  in  a  cluster  against  the  dusky  sea,  and  he 
knew  something  of  the  intrigues  that  went  on  in  the 
town.  Commercial  and  political  jealousies  were  very 
keen,  and  citizfens  of  all  ranks  fought  and  schemed 
against  their  neighbors.  The  place  was  rank  with 
plots,  but  it  was  hard  to  see  how  he  could  be  involved. 
Yet  it  certainly  began  to  look  as  if  he  had  been  stabbed 
by  Oliva's  order,  and  Oliva  was  now  employed  at  the 
Adexe  coaling  wharf. 

This  seemed  to  throw  a  light  upon  the  matter. 
Something  mysterious  was  going  on  at  Adexe,  and 


DICK  GETS  A  WARNING  193 

perhaps  he  had  been  incautious  and  had  shown  his 
suspicions;  the  Spaniards  were  subtle.  The  manager 
might  have  imagined  he  knew  more  than  he  did;  but 
if  it  was  worth  defending  by  the  means  Payne  had 
hinted  at,  the  secret  must  be  very  important,  and 
the  plotters  would  hesitate  about  betraying  themselves 
by  another  attempt  upon  his  life  so  long  as  there  was 
any  possibility  of  failure.  Besides,  it  was  dangerous 
to  attack  a  foreigner,  since  if  he  were  killed,  the  repre- 
sentative of  his  country  would  demand  an  exhaustive 
inquiry. 

While  Dick  pondered  the  matter  the  hand-car 
stopped  and  he  alighted  and  walked  briskly  to  Santa 
Brigida,  keeping  in  the  middle  of  the  road.  When  he 
reached  the  town,  he  chose  the  wide,  well-lighted 
streets  but  saw  nothing  suspicious.  After  transacting 
his  business  he  ventured,  by  way  of  experiment,  across 
a  small  dark  square  and  returned  to  the  main  street 
by  a  narrow  lane,  but  although  he  kept  a  keen  watch 
nothing  indicated  that  he  was  followed.  Reaching 
the  hand-car  without  being  molested,  he  determined  to 
be  cautious  in  future,  though  it  was  possible  that  Payne 
had  been  deceived. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

JAKE  EXPLAINS   MATTERS 

THE  sun  had  sunk  behind  the  range  when  Clare 
Kenwardine  stood,  musing,  on  a  balcony  of  the 
house.  Voices  and  footsteps  reached  her  across  the 
roofs,  for  Santa  Brigida  was  wakening  from  its  after- 
noon sleep  and  the  traffic  had  begun  again  in  the  cool- 
ing streets.  The  girl  listened  vacantly,  as  she  grap- 
pled with  questions  that  had  grown  more  troublesome 
of  late. 

The  life  she  led  often  jarred,  and  yet  she  could  find 
no  escape.  She  hoped  she  was  not  unnecessarily  cen- 
sorious and  tried  to  argue  that  after  all  there  was  no 
great  harm  in  gambling,  but  rarely  succeeded  in  con- 
vincing herself.  Then  she  had  deliberately  thrown 
in  her  lot  with  her  father's.  When  she  first  insisted 
on  joining  him  in  England,  he  had,  for  her  sake,  as 
she  now  realized,  discouraged  the  plan,  but  had  since 
come  to  depend  upon  her  in  many  ways,  and  she  could 
not  leave  him.  Besides,  it  was  too  late.  She  had 
made  her  choice  and  must  stick  to  it. 

Yet  she  rebelled  against  the  feeling  that  she  had 
brought  a  taint  or  stigma  upon  herself.  She  had  no 
women  friends  except  the  wives  of  one  or  two  Spanish 
officials  whose  reputation  for  honesty  was  not  of  the 
best ;  the  English  and  American  women  left  her  alone. 
Most  of  the  men  she  met  she  frankly  disliked,  and  im- 

194 


JAKE  EXPLAINS  MATTERS         195 

agined  that  the  formal  respect  they  showed  her  was 
due  to  her  father's  hints.  Kenwardine's  moral  code 
was  not  severe,  but  he  saw  that  his  guests  preserved 
their  manners.  Clare  had  heard  the  Spaniards  call 
him  muy  cahallero,  and  they  knew  the  outward  points 
of  a  gentleman.  While  she  pondered,  he  came  out  on 
the  balcony, 

"  Brooding  ?  "  he  said  with  a  smile.  "  Well,  it  has 
been  very  dull  lately  and  we  need  cheering  up.  Sup- 
pose you  send  Mr.  Fuller  a  note  and  ask  him  to  dinner 
to-morrow  ?  He's  sometimes  amusing  and  I  think  you 
like  him." 

Clare  braced  herself  for  a  struggle,  for  it  was  seldom 
she  refused  her  father's  request. 

"  Yes,"  she  said,  "  I  like  him,  but  it  would  be  better 
if  he  didn't  come." 

Kenwardine  gave  her  a  keen  glance,  but  although 
he  felt  some  surprise  did  not  try  to  hide  his  under- 
standing of  what  she  meant. 

"  It  looks  as  if  you  knew  something  about  what  hap- 
pened on  his  last  visit." 

"  I  do,"  Clare  answered.     "  It  was  rather  a  shock." 

"  One  mustn't  exaggerate  the  importance  of  these 
things,"  Kenwardine  remarked  in  an  indulgent  tone. 
"  It's  difficult  to  avoid  getting  a  jar  now  and  then, 
though  I've  tried  to  shield  you  as  much  as  possible. 
Fuller's  young  and  high-spirited,  and  you  really 
mustn't  judge  his  youthful  extravagance  too  severely." 

"  But  don't  you  see  you  are  admitting  that  he 
shouldn't  come  ?  "  Clare  asked,  with  some  color  in  her 
face.  "  He  is  young  and  inexperienced,  and  your 
friends  are  men  of  the  world.  What  is  safe  for  them 
may  be  dangerous  for  him." 


196    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

Kenwardine  pondered.  Fuller  was  an  attractive 
lad,  and  he  would  not  have  been  displeased  to  think 
that  Clare's  wish  to  protect  him  might  spring  from 
sentimental  tenderness.  But  if  this  were  so,  she  would 
hardly  have  been  so  frank  and  have  admitted  that  he 
was  weak.  Moreover,  if  she  found  his  society  con- 
genial, she  would  not  insist  on  keeping  him  away. 

"  You  are  afraid  some  of  the  others  might  take  ad- 
vantage of  his  rashness?  "  he  suggested.  "  Can't  you 
trust  me  to  see  this  doesn't  happen?  " 

"  It  did  happen,  not  long  ago.  And  you  can't  go 
very  far;  one  can't  be  rude  to  one's  guests." 

"  Well,"  said  Kenwardine,  smiling,  "  it's  kind  of 
you  to  make  an  excuse  for  me.  On  the  whole,  of 
course,  I  like  you  to  be  fastidious  in  your  choice  of 
friends,  but  one  should  temper  severity  with  sense. 
I  don't  want  you  to  get  as  exacting  as  Brandon,  for 
example." 

"  I'm  afraid  he  was  right  when  he  tried  to  keep 
Fuller  away." 

"  Right  in  thinking  my  house  was  unsafe  for  the 
lad,  and  in  warning  him  that  you  and  I  were  unfit  for 
him  to  associate  with  ?  " 

Kenwardine  studied  the  girl.  She  looked  distressed, 
and  he  thought  this  significant,  but  after  a  moment  or 
two  she  answered  steadily: 

"  After  all,  Brandon  had  some  grounds  for  thinking 
so.  I  would  much  sooner  you  didn't  urge  me  to  ask 
Jake  Fuller." 

"  Very  well,"  said  Kenwardine.  "  I  don't  want  you 
to  do  anything  that's  repugnant;  but,  of  course,  if 
he  comes  to  see  me,  I  can't  send  him  off.  It  isn't  a 
matter  of  much  importance,  anyhow." 


JAKE  EXPLAINS  MATTERS         197 

He  left  her,  but  she  was  not  deceived  by  his  careless 
tone.  She  thought  he  meant  to  bring  Fuller  back 
and  did  not  see  how  she  could  prevent  this,  although 
she  had  refused  to  help.  Then  she  thought  about  the 
plans  that  Brandon  had  lost  at  their  house  in  Eng- 
land. They  had  certainly  been  stolen,  for  she  could 
not  doubt  what  he  had  told  her,  but  it  was  painful  to 
admit  that  her  father  had  taken  them.  She  felt  de- 
jected and  lonely,  and  while  she  struggled  against  the 
depression  Lucille  came  to  say  that  Jake  was  waiting 
below. 

"  Tell  him  I  am  not  at  home,"  Clare  replied. 

Lucille  went  away  and  Clare  left  the  balcony,  but 
a  few  minutes  later,  when  she  thought  Jake  had  gone, 
she  went  down  the  stairs  and  met  him  coming  up.  He 
stopped  with  a  twinkle  of  amusement. 

"  I  sent  word  that  I  was  not  at  home,"  she  said 
haughtily. 

"  You  did,"  Jake  agreed  in  an  apologetic  tone.  "  It's 
your  privilege,  but  although  I  felt  rather  hurt,  I  don't 
see  why  that  should  prevent  my  asking  if  your  father 
was  in." 

Clare's  indignation  vanished.  She  liked  Jake  and 
was  moved  by  his  reproachful  look.  She  determined 
to  try  an  appeal. 

"  Mr.  Fuller,"  she  said,  "  I  would  sooner  you  didn't 
come  to  see  us.  It  would  be  better,  in  several 
ways." 

He  gave  her  a  curious,  intent  look,  in  which  she 
read  sympathy.  "  I  can't  pretend  I  don't  understand, 
and  you're  very  brave.  Still,  I'm  not  sure  you're 
quite  just,  to  me  among  others.  I'm  a  bit  of  a  fool, 
but  I'm  not  so  rash  as  some  people  think.     Anyhow, 


198    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

if  I  were,  I'd  still  be  safe  enough  in  your  house. 
Sorry,  but  I  can't  promise  to  stop  away." 

"  It  would  really  be  much  better,"  Clare  insisted. 

"  Would  it  make  things  any  easier  for  you?  " 

"  No,"  said  Clare.  "  In  a  sense,  it  could  make  no 
difference  to  me." 

"  Very  well.  I  intend  to  call  on  your  father  now 
and  then.  Of  course,  you  needn't  see  me  unless  you 
like,  though  since  I  am  coming,  your  keeping  out  of 
the  way  wouldn't  do  much  good." 

Qare  made  a  gesture  of  helpless  protest.  "  Why 
won't  you  be  warned?  Can't  you  understand?  Do 
you  think  it  is  easy  for  me  to  try " 

"  I  don't,"  said  Jake.  "  I  know  it's  very  hard.  I 
think  you're  mistaken  about  the  necessity  for  inter- 
fering; that's  all."  Then  he  paused  and  resumed  in 
a  different  tone :  **  You  see,  I  imagine  that  you  must 
feel  lonely  at  times,  and  that  you  might  need  a  friend. 
I  dare  say  you'd  find  me  better  than  none,  and  I'd  like 
to  know  that  I'll  have  an  opportunity  of  being  around 
if  I'm  wanted." 

He  gave  her  a  quiet,  respectful  glance,  and  Clare 
knew  she  had  never  liked  him  so  much.  He  looked 
trustworthy,  and  it  was  a  relief  to  note  that  there 
was  no  hint  of  anything  but  sympathy  in  his  eyes  and 
voice.  He  asked  nothing  but  permission  to  protect 
her  if  there  was  need.  Moreover,  since  they  had  been 
forced  to  tread  on  dangerous  ground,  he  had  handled 
the  situation  with  courage.  She  might  require  a 
friend,  and  his  honest  sympathy  was  refreshing  by 
contrast  with  the  attitude  of  her  father's  companions. 
Some  were  hard  and  cynical  and  some  were  dissi- 
pated, but  all  were  stamped  by  a  repugnant  greediness. 


JAKE  EXPLAINS  MATTERS         199 

They  sought  something:  money,  the  gratification  of 
base  desires,  success  in  dark  intrigue.  Jake  with  his 
chivalrous  generosity  stood  far  apart  from  them;  but 
he  must  be  saved  from  becoming  Hke  them. 

"  If  I  knew  how  I  could  keep  you  away,  I  would 
do  so,  but  I  can,  at  least,  see  you  as  seldom  as  possi- 
ble," she  said  and  left  him. 

Jake  knitted  his  brows  as  he  went  on  to  Kenwar- 
dine's  room.  He  understood  Clare's  motive,  and  ad- 
mitted that  she  meant  well,  but  he  was  not  going  to 
stop  away  because  she  thought  this  better  for  him. 
There  was,  however,  another  matter  that  demanded 
his  attention  and  he  felt  awkward  when  Kenwardine 
opened  the  door. 

"  It's  some  time  since  you  have  been  to  see  us,"  the 
latter  remarked. 

"  It  is,"  said  Jake.  "  Perhaps  you  can  understand 
that  I  felt  rather  shy  about  coming  after  the  way  my 
partner  arranged  the  matter  of  the  check." 

"  He  arranged  it  to  your  advantage,  and  you  ought 
to  be  satisfied.  Mr.  Brandon  is  obviously  a  business 
man." 

Jack  resented  the  polished  sneer.  "  He's  a  very  good 
sort  and  I'm  grateful  to  him ;  but  it  doesn't  follow  that 
I  adopt  his  point  of  view." 

"  You  mean  his  views  about  the  payment  of  one's 
debts?" 

"  Yes,"  said  Jake.  "  I  don't  consider  the  debt 
wiped  out ;  in  fact,  that's  why  I  came.  I  want  to  make 
good,  but  it  will  take  time.  If  you  will  ask  your 
friends  to  wait " 

Kenwardine  looked  at  him  with  an  ironical  smile. 
**  Isn't  this  a  change  of  attitude  ?     I  understood  you 


200    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

claimed  that  you  were  under  a  disadvantage  through 
being  drunk  and  suspected  that  the  game  was  not 
quite  straight." 

"  I  was  drunk  and  still  suspect  Black  of  crooked 
play." 

"  It's  rather  a  grave  statement." 

"  I  quite  see  that,"  said  Jake.  "  However,  I  de- 
served to  lose  for  being  drunk  when  I  was  betting 
high,  and  don't  hold  you  accountable  for  Black. 
You'd  take  steep  chances  if  you  guaranteed  all  guests." 

Kenwardine  laughed.  "  You're  remarkably  frank ; 
but  there's  some  truth  in  what  you  say,  although  the 
convention  is  that  I  do  guarantee  them  and  their  hon- 
or's mine." 

"  We'll  keep  to  business,"  Jake  replied.  "  Will  you 
tell  your  friends  I'll  pay  them  out  in  full  as  soon  as  I 
can?" 

"  Certainly.  Since  they  thought  the  matter  closed, 
it  will  be  a  pleasant  surprise,  but  we'll  let  that  go. 
Mr.  Brandon  obviously  didn't  consult  your  wishes, 
but  have  you  any  idea  what  his  object  was  in  taking  his 
very  unusual  line?" 

"  Yes,"  said  Jake;  "  if  you  press  me,  I  have." 

"  He  thought  he  would  make  it  awkward  for  you 
to  come  here,  in  fact?  " 

"  Something  like  that." 

"  Then  you  mean  to  run  the  risk  ?  " 

*'  I'm  coming,  if  you'll  allow  it,"  Jake  answered  with 
a  twinkle.  "  The  risk  isn't  very  great,  because  if  I  lose 
any  more  money  in  the  next  few  months,  the  winners 
will  not  get  paid.  The  old  man  certainly  won't  stand 
for  it  if  I  get  into  debt." 

Kenwardine  pushed  a  box  of  cigarettes  across.     "  I 


JAKE  EXPLAINS  MATTERS         201 

congratulate  you  on  your  way  of  making  things  clear, 
and  now  we  understand  each  other  you  can  come  when 
you  like.     Have  a  smoke." 

Jake  took  a  cigarette,  but  left  soon  afterwards  to 
do  an  errand  of  Bethune's  that  had  given  him  an  ex- 
cuse for  visiting  the  town.  Then  he  went  back  to 
the  dam,  and  after  dinner  sat  outside  Dick's  shack, 
pondering  what  Clare  had  said.  She  had,  of  course, 
had  some  ground  for  warning  him,  but  he  did  not 
believe  yet  that  Kenwardine  meant  to  exploit  his  reck- 
lessness. It  would  not  be  worth  while,  for  one  thing, 
since  he  had  never  had  much  money  to  lose  and  now 
had  none.  Besides,  Kenwardine  was  not  the  man  to 
take  a  mean  advantage  of  his  guest,  though  Jake  could 
not  say  as  much  for  some  of  his  friends.  Anyhow, 
he  meant  to  go  to  the  house  because  he  felt  that  Clare 
might  need  his  help.  He  did  not  see  how  that  might 
be,  but  he  had  a  half- formed  suspicion  that  she  might 
have  to  suffer  on  her  father's  account,  and  if  anything 
of  the  kind  happened,  he  meant  to  be  about. 

Yet  he  was  not  in  love  with  her.  She  attracted 
him  strongly,  and  he  admitted  that  it  would  be  re- 
markably easy  to  become  infatuated,  but  did  not  mean 
to  let  this  happen.  Though  often  rash,  he  had  more 
sense  and  self-control  than  his  friends  believed,  and 
realized  that  Clare  was  not  for  him.  He  could  not 
tell  how  he  had  arrived  at  this  conclusion,  but  there 
it  was,  and  he  knew  he  was  not  mistaken.  Some- 
times he  wondered  with  a  twinge  of  jealousy  what 
she  thought  of  Brandon. 

By  and  by  he  roused  himself  from  his  reflections 
and  looked  about.  There  was  no  moon  and  a  thin 
mist  that  had  stolen  out  of  the  jungle  drifted  past 


202    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

the  shack,  A  coffee-pot  and  two  cups  stood  upon  a 
table  near  his  chair,  and  one  cup  was  half  empty,  as 
Dick  had  left  it  when  he  was  unexpectedly  summoned 
to  the  dam,  where  work  was  going  on.  The  veranda 
lamp  had  been  put  out,  because  Jake  did  not  want 
to  read  and  a  bright  light  would  have  attracted  moths 
and  beetles,  but  Dick  had  left  a  lamp  burning  in  his 
room,  and  a  faint  illumination  came  through  the  cur- 
tain on  the  open  window.  Everything  was  very  quiet 
except  when  the  ringing  of  hammers  and  the  rattle  of 
a  crane  rose  from  the  dam. 

Looking  farther  round,  Jake  thought  he  distin- 
guished the  blurred  outline  of  a  human  figure  in  the 
mist,  but  was  not  surprised.  Some  ironwork  that 
made  a  comfortable  seat  lay  near  the  shack  and  the 
figure  had  been  there  before.  For  all  that,  he  imag- 
ined the  man  was  wasting  his  time  and  keeping  an 
unnecessary  watch.  Then  his  thoughts  again  cen- 
tered on  Clare  and  Kenwardine  and  some  time  had 
passed  when  he  looked  up.  Something  had  disturbed 
him,  but  he  could  not  tell  what  it  was,  and  on  glancing 
at  the  spot  where  he  had  seen  the  figure  he  found  it 
had  gone. 

Next  moment  a  board  in  the  house  creaked  softly, 
as  if  it  had  been  trodden  on;  but  the  boards  often 
did  so  after  a  change  of  temperature,  and  Jake  sat 
still.  Their  colored  servant  had  asked  leave  to  go 
down  to  the  camp  and  was  perhaps  now  coming  back. 
One  had  to  be  careful  not  to  give  one's  imagination 
too  much  rein  in  these  hot  countries.  Payne  seemed 
to  have  done  so  and  had  got  an  attack  of  nerves, 
which  was  curious,  because  indulgence  in  native  cafia 
generally  led  to  that  kind  of  thing,  and  Payne  was 


JAKE  EXPLAINS  MATTERS         20a 

sober.  Moreover,  he  was  of  the  type  that  is  com- 
monly called  hard. 

Jake  took  out  a  cigarette  and  was  lighting  it  when  he 
heard  a  swift,  stealthy  step  close  behind  him.  He 
dropped  the  match  as  he  swung  round,  pushing  back 
his  canvas  chair,  and  found  his  eyes  dazzled  by  the 
sudden  darkness.  Still  he  thought  he  saw  a  shadow 
flit  across  the  veranda  and  vanish  into  the  mist.  Next 
moment  there  were  heavier  footsteps,  and  a  crash  as 
a  man  fell  over  the  projecting  legs  of  the  chair.  The 
fellow  rolled  down  the  shallow  stairs,  dropping  a  pistol 
and  then  hurriedly  got  up. 

"  Stop  right  there,  Pepe ! "  he  shouted.  "  What 
were  you  doing  in  that  room?  " 

Nobody  answered  and  Jake  turned  to  the  man,  who 
was  rubbing  his  leg. 

"  What's  the  trouble,  Payne?  "  he  asked. 

"  He's  lit  out,  but  I  reckon  I'd  have  got  him  if  you'd 
been  more  careful  how  you  pushed  your  chair  around." 

"  Whom  did  you  expect  to  get  ?  " 

"  Well,"  said  Payne,  "  it  wasn't  Pepe." 

"  Then  why  did  you  call  him  ?  " 

"  I  wanted  the  fellow  I  was  after  to  think  I'd  made 
a  mistake." 

Jake  could  understand  this,  though  the  rest  was 
dark.  Pepe  was  an  Indian  boy  who  brought  water 
and  domestic  stores  to  the  shack,  but  would  have  no 
excuse  for  entering  it  at  night. 

"  I  allow  he  meant  to  dope  the  coffee,"  Payne  re- 
sumed. 

This  was  alarming,  and  Jake  abruptly  glanced  at 
the  table.  The  intruder  must  have  been  close  to  it 
and  behind  him  when  he  heard  the  step,  and  might 


204    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

have  accomplished  his  purpose  and  stolen  away  had  he 
not  struck  the  match. 

"  He  hadn't  time,"  he  answered.  "  We  had  better 
see  what  he  was  doing  in  the  house." 

Payne  put  away  his  pistol  and  they  entered  Dick's 
room.  Nothing  seemed  to  have  been  touched,  until 
Jake  placed  the  lamp  on  a  writing-table  where  Dick 
sometimes  worked  at  night.  The  drawers  beneath  it 
were  locked,  but  Payne  indicated  a  greasy  finger-print 
on  the  writing-pad. 

"  I  guess  that's  a  dago's  mark.  Mr.  Brandon  would 
wash  his  hands  before  he  began  to  write." 

Jake  agreed,  and  picking  up  the  pad  thought  the 
top  sheet  had  been  hurriedly  removed,  because  a  torn 
fragment  projected  from  the  leather  clip.  The  sheet 
left  was  covered  with  faint  impressions,  but  it  rather 
looked  as  if  these  had  been  made  by  the  ink  running 
through  than  by  direct  contact.  Jake  wrote  a  few 
words  on  a  scrap  of  paper  and  pressing  it  on  the  pad 
noted  the  difference. 

"  This  is  strange,"  he  said.  "  I  don't  get  the  drift 
of  it." 

Payne  looked  at  him  with  a  dry  smile.  "  If  you'll 
come  out  and  let  me  talk,  I'll  try  to  put  you  wise." 

Jake  nodded  and  they  went  back  to  the  veranda. 


CHAPTER  XX 

DON    SEBASTIAN 

WHEN  they  returned  to  the  veranda  Payne  sat 
down  on  the  steps.     Jake  picked  up  his  chair 
and  looked  at  him  thoughtfully. 

"  Now,"  he  said,  "  I  want  to  know  why  you  have 
been  prowling  about  the  shack  at  night.  You  had 
better  begin  at  the  beginning." 

"  Very  well.  I  guess  you  know  I  was  put  off  this 
camp  soon  before  you  came?  " 

"  I  heard  something  about  it,"  Jake  admitted. 

Payne  grinned  as  if  he  appreciated  his  tact,  and 
then  resumed :  "  In  the  settlement  where  I  was 
raised,  the  old  fellow  who  kept  the  store  had  a  cheat- 
ledger.  When  somebody  traded  stale  eggs  and  gar- 
den-truck for  good  groceries,  and  the  storekeeper  saw 
he  couldn't  make  trouble  about  it  without  losing  a 
customer,  he  said  nothing  but  scored  it  down  against 
the  man.  Sometimes  he  had  to  wait  a  long  while,  but 
sooner  or  later  he  squared  the  account.  Now  that's 
my  plan  with  Don  Ramon  Oliva." 

"  I  see,"  said  Jake.  "  What  have  you  against 
him?" 

"  To  begin  with,  he  got  me  fired.  It  was  a  thing 
I  took  my  chances  of  and  wouldn't  have  blamed  him 
for;  but  I  reckon  now  your  father's  cement  wasn't 
all  he  was  after.     He  wanted  a  pull  on  me." 

"Why?" 

205 


2o6    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

"  I  haven't  got  that  quite  clear,  but  I'm  an  American 
and  could  do  things  he  couldn't,  without  being  sus- 
pected." 

"  Go  on,"  said  Jake,  in  a  thoughtful  tone. 

"  Well,  for  a  clever  man,  he  made  a  very  poor  de- 
fense vv^hen  your  partner  spotted  his  game;  seemed  to 
say  if  they  reckoned  he'd  been  stealing,  he'd  let  it  go 
at  that.  Then,  vi^hen  he'd  got  me  and  found  I  wasn't 
the  man  he  wanted,  he  turned  me  down.  Left  me  to 
live  with  breeds  and  niggers !  " 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  your  not  being  the  man  he 
wanted  ?  " 

Payne  smiled  in  a  deprecatory  way.  "  I  allow  that 
I  was  willing  to  make  a  few  dollars  on  the  cement,  but 
working  against  white  men  in  a  dago  plot  is  a  dif- 
ferent thing." 

"  Then  there  is  a  plot  ?  " 

"  Well,"  said  Payne  quietly,  "  I  don't  know  much 
about  it,  but  something's  going  on." 

Jake  lighted  a  cigarette  while  he  pondered.  He 
was  not  surprised  that  Payne  should  talk  to  him  with 
confidential  familiarity,  because  the  situation  war- 
ranted it,  and  the  American  workman  is  not,  as  a  rule, 
deferential  to  his  employer.  The  fellow  might  be 
mistaken,  but  he  believed  that  Oliva  had  schemed  to 
get  him  into  his  power  and  work  upon  his  wish 
for  revenge.  Jake  could  understand  Oliva's  error. 
Payne's  moral  code  was  rudimentary,  but  he  had  some 
racial  pride  and  would  not  act  like  a  treacherous  rene- 
gade. 

"  I  begin  to  see  how  your  account  against  Oliva 
stands,"  he  remarked.  "  But  is  that  the  only  entry 
in  your  book?" 


DON  SEBASTIAN  207 

"  I  guess  not,"  Payne  replied.  "  Mr.  Brandon's 
name  is  there,  but  the  entry  is  against  myself.  It  was 
a  straight  fight  when  he  had  me  fired,  and  he  took  me 
back  when  he  found  I  was  down  and  out." 

Jake  nodded.  "  You  have  already  warned  Bran- 
don that  he  might  be  in  some  danger  in  the  town." 

"  That's  so.  Since  then,  I  reckoned  that  they  were 
getting  after  him  here,  but  we  were  more  likely  to  hold 
them  up  if  they  didn't  know  we  knew.  That's  why 
I  called  out  to  show  I  thought  it  was  Pepe  who  was 
in  the  shack." 

"  Very  well,"  said  Jake.  "  There's  nothing  more 
to  be  done  in  the  meantime,  but  you'd  better  tell  me 
if  you  find  out  anything  else." 

Payne  went  away  and  when  Dick  came  in  Jake  took 
him  into  his  room  and  indicated  the  blotter. 

"  Have  you  torn  off  the  top  sheet  in  the  last  few 
days?" 

"  I  don't  remember  doing  so,  but  now  I  come  to 
look,  it  has  been  torn  off." 

"  What  have  you  been  writing  lately  ?  " 

"  Orders  for  small  supplies,  specifications  of  mate- 
rial, and  such  things." 

"Concrete,  in  short?"  Jake  remarked.  "Well, 
it's  not  an  interesting  subject  to  outsiders  and  some- 
times gets  very  stale  to  those  who  have  to  handle  it. 
Are  you  quite  sure  you  haven't  been  writing  about 
anything  else?  " 

"  I  am  sure.     Why  do  you  ask  ?  " 

"  Because,  as  you  see,  somebody  thought  it  worth 
while  to  steal  the  top  sheet  of  your  blotter,"  Jake  re- 
plied. "  Now  perhaps  I'd  better  tell  you  something 
I've  just  learned." 


2o8    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

He  related  what  Payne  had  told  him  and  con- 
cluded :  "  I'm  puzzled  about  diva's  motive.  After 
all,  it  could  hardly  be  revenge." 

"  No,"  said  Dick,  with  a  thoughtful  frown,  "  I 
don't  imagine  it  is." 

"  Then  what  does  he  expect  to  gain?  " 

Dick  was  silent  for  a  few  moments  with  knitted 
brows,  and  then  asked :  "  You  have  a  Monroe  Doc- 
trine, haven't  you?" 

"  We  certainly  have,"  Jake  agreed,  smiling.  "  We 
reaffirmed  it  not  long  ago." 

*'  Roughly  speaking,  the  Doctrine  states  that  no 
European  power  can  be  allowed  to  set  up  a  naval  base 
or  make  warlike  preparations  in  any  part  of  America. 
In  fact,  you  warn  all  foreigners  to  keep  their  hands 
off?" 

"  That's  its  general  purport ;  but  while  I  support  it 
patriotically,  I  can't  tell  you  exactly  what  it  says. 
Anyhow,  I  don't  see  what  this  has  to  do  with  the 
matter." 

"  Nor  do  I,  but  it  seems  to  promise  a  clue,"  Dick 
answered  dryly.  He  frowned  at  the  blotter  and  then 
added :  "  We'll  leave  it  at  that.  I've  some  vague 
suspicions,  but  nothing  to  act  upon.  If  the  thing  gets 
any  plainer,  I'll  let  you  know." 

"  But  what  about  Payne  ?  Is  he  to  hang  around 
here  nights  with  his  gun  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  Dick,  "  it  isn't  necessary.  But  there'd 
be  no  harm  in  our  taking  a  few  precautions." 

He  stretched  his  arms  wearily  when  Jake  left  him, 
for  he  had  had  a  tiring  day  and  had  now  been  given 
ground  for  anxious  thought.  He  had  not  troubled 
much  about  Oliva  while  he  imagined  that  the  fellow 


DON  SEBASTIAN  209 

was  actuated  by  a  personal  grudge,  but  his  antagonism 
began  to  look  more  dangerous.  Suppose  the  Adexe 
coaling  station  was  intended  to  be  something  of  the 
nature  of  a  naval  base?  Munitions  and  other  contra- 
band of  war  might  be  quietly  sent  off  with  fuel  to 
fighting  ships.  Richter,  the  German,  had  certainly 
been  associated  with  Kenwardine,  who  had  made  an 
opportunity  for  telling  Jake  that  they  had  disagreed. 
Then  suppose  the  owners  of  the  station  had  learned 
that  they  were  being  spied  upon?  Dick  admitted  that 
he  might  not  have  been  as  tactful  as  he  thought;  and 
he  was  employed  by  an  influential  American.  The 
Americans  might  be  disposed  to  insist  upon  a  strict 
observance  of  the  Monroe  Doctrine.  Granting  all 
this,  if  he  was  to  be  dealt  with,  it  would  be  safer  to 
make  use  of  a  half-breed  who  was  known  to  have 
some  ground  for  hating  him. 

Dick,  however,  reflected  that  he  was  taking  much 
for  granted  and  his  suppositions  might  well  be  wrong. 
It  was  unwise  to  attach  too  much  importance  to  a 
plausible  theory.  Then  he  could  not  expose  Ken- 
wardine without  involving  Clare,  and  saw  no  means 
of  separating  them.  Besides,  Kenwardine's  position 
was  strong.  The  officials  were  given  to  graft,  and  he 
had,  no  doubt,  made  a  skilful  use  of  bribes.  Warn- 
ings about  him  would  not  be  listened  to,  particularly 
as  he  was  carrying  on  a  thriving  business  and  paying 
large  sums  in  wages  in  a  country  that  depended  on 
foreign  capital. 

Then  Dick  got  up  with  a  frown.  His  head  ached 
and  he  was  tired  after  working  since  sunrise  in  ener- 
vating heat.  The  puzzle  could  not  be  solved  now, 
and  he  must  wait  until  he  found  out  something  more. 


210    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

For  the  next  two  or  three  evenings  he  was  kept 
busy  at  the  dam,  where  work  was  carried  on  after 
dark,  and  Jake,  taking  advantage  of  this,  went  to 
Santa  Brigida  one  night  when  he  knew  the  locomotive 
would  be  coming  back  up  the  line.  Nothing  of  im- 
portance happened  at  Kenwardine's,  where  he  did  not 
see  Clare,  and  on  his  return  he  took  a  short  cut  through 
a  badly-lighted  part  of  the  town.  There  was  perhaps 
some  risk  in  this,  but  Jake  seldom  avoided  an  adven- 
ture. Nothing  unusual  happened  as  he  made  his  way 
through  the  narrow  streets,  until  he  reached  a  corner 
where  a  noisy  group  hung  about  the  end  house.  As 
the  men  did  not  look  sober,  he  took  the  other  side 
of  the  street,  where  the  light  of  a  lamp  fell  upon 
him. 

His  close-fitting  white  clothes  distinguished  him 
from  the  picturesque  untidiness  of  the  rest,  and  when 
somebody  shouted,  "  Un  Gringo ! "  one  or  two  moved 
across  as  if  to  stop  him.  Jake  walked  on  quickly, 
looking  straight  in  front  without  seeming  to  notice 
the  others,  in  the  hope  of  getting  past  before  they  got 
in  his  way,  but  a  man  dressed  like  a  respectable  citizen 
came  round  the  corner  and  the  peons  ran  off.  Since 
the  appearance  of  a  single  stranger  did  not  seem  to 
account  for  this,  Jake  wondered  what  had  alarmed 
them,  until  he  saw  a  rural  guard  in  white  uniform  be- 
hind the  other.  When  the  man  came  up  the  nirale 
stopped  and  raised  his  hand  as  if  he  meant  to  salute, 
but  let  it  fall  again,  and  Jake  imagined  that  the  first 
had  given  him  a  warning  glance.  He  knew  the  thin, 
dark- faced  Spaniard,  whom  he  had  met  at  Ken- 
wardine's. 

The  man  touched  Jake's  shoulder  and  drew  him 


DON  SEBASTIAN  211 

away,  and  the  lad  thought  it  strange  that  the  rurale 
went  on  without  asking  a  question. 

"  I  don't  know  that  the  peons  meant  to  make 
trouble,  but  I'm  glad  you  came  along,  Don  Sebastian," 
he  said. 

"  It  is  an  honor  to  have  been  of  some  service,  but 
it  looks  as  if  you  were  as  rash  in  other  matters  as  you 
are  at  cards,"  the  Spaniard  answered.  "  These  dark 
calles  are  unsafe  for  foreigners." 

"  So  it  seems,  but  I'm  afraid  it  will  be  a  long  time 
before  I'm  worth  robbing,"  Jake  replied,  and  then  re- 
membered with  embarrassment  that  the  other  was  one 
of  the  party  whose  winnings  he  had  not  yet  paid. 

Don  Sebastian  smiled,  but  said  suavely :  "  For  all 
that,  you  should  not  take  an  unnecessary  risk.  You 
have  been  attacked  once  already,  I  think  ?  " 

"  Yes,  but  it  was  my  partner  who  got  hurt." 

"  That  is  one  of  the  ironies  of  luck.  Sefior  Bran- 
don is  sober  and  cautious,  but  he  gets  injured  when  he 
comes  to  protect  you,  who  are  rash." 

"  He's  what  you  say,  but  I  didn't  know  you  had 
met  him,"  Jake  replied. 

"  I  have  heard  of  him ;  you  foreigners  are  talked 
about  in  the  cafes.  They  talk  much  in  Santa  Brigida; 
many  have  nothing  else  to  do.  But  have  you  and 
Sefior  Brandon  only  been  molested  once  ?  " 

Jake  hesitated  for  a  moment.  He  liked  the  man 
and  on  the  whole  thought  he  could  be  trusted,  while 
he  imagined  that  he  was  not  prompted  by  idle  curiosity 
but  knew  something.  Besides,  Jake  was  often  impul- 
sive and  ready,  as  he  said,  to  back  his  judgment. 

"  We  were  only  once  actually  attacked,  but  some- 
thing rather  curious  happened  not  long  ago." 

"  Ah  I "  said  Don  Sebastian,  "  this  is  interesting, 


212    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

and  as  I  know  something  of  the  intrigues  that  go  on 
in  the  city  it  might  be  to  your  advantage  to  tell  me 
about  it.     There  is  a  quiet  wine-shop  not  far  off." 

"  Would  it  be  safe  to  go  in?  "  Jake  asked. 

"  I  think  so,"  his  companion  answered,  smiling. 

Jake  presently  followed  him  into  a  small,  dimly 
lighted  room,  and  noted  that  the  landlord  came  to  wait 
on  them  with  obsequious  attention.  Two  peons  were 
drinking  in  a  comer,  but  they  went  out  when  the  land- 
lord made  a  sign.  Jake  thought  this  curious,  but  Don 
Sebastian  filled  his  glass  and  gave  him  a  cigarette. 

"  Now,"  he  said,  "  we  have  the  place  to  ourselves 
and  you  can  tell  your  story." 

Jake  related  how  a  stranger  had  stolen  into  their 
shack  a  few  days  ago,  and  Don  Sebastian  listened  at- 
tentively. 

"  You  do  not  think  it  was  one  of  the  peons  employed 
at  the  dam  ?  "  he  suggested. 

"  No,"  said  Jake.  "  Anyhow,  Payne  seemed  satis- 
fied it  wasn't." 

"  He  would  probably  know  them  better  than  you. 
Do  you  keep  money  in  the  house  ?  " 

"  Very  little.  We  lock  up  the  money  for  wages  in 
the  pay-office  safe.  Anyhow,  I'm  not  sure  the  fellow 
came  to  steal." 

"  If  he  did  so,  one  would  not  imagine  that  he  would 
be  satisfied  with  blotting-paper,"  Don  Sebastian  agreed. 
"  You  said  there  was  some  coffee  on  the  table." 

"  There  was.  Payne  reckoned  the  fellow  meant  to 
dope  it.     What  do  you  think  ?  " 

"  It  is  possible,  if  he  had  ground  for  being  revenge- 
ful. Some  of  the  Indians  from  the  mountains  are 
expert  poisoners.  But  why  should  anybody  wish  to 
injure  your  comrade?" 


DON  SEBASTIAN  213 

"  I  didn't  suggest  that  he  wished  to  injure  Brandon. 
He  might  have  meant  to  dope  me." 

Don  Sebastian  smiled.  "  That  is  so,  but  on  the 
whole  I  do  not  think  it  probable.  Do  you  know  of 
anybody  whom  your  friend  has  harmed  ?  " 

Jake  decided  to  tell  him  about  Oliva.  He  was  now 
convinced  that  Don  Sebastian  knew  more  than  he  ad- 
mitted and  that  his  interest  was  not  unfriendly.  Be- 
sides, there  was  somehow  a  hint  of  authority  in  the 
fellow's  thin,  dark  face.  He  showed  polite  attention 
as  Jake  narrated  the  events  that  had  led  to  Oliva's  dis- 
missal, but  the  lad  imagined  that  he  was  telling  him 
nothing  he  had  not  already  heard. 

"  The  motive  may  have  been  revenge,  but  as  Sefior 
Brandon  was  stabbed  that  ought  to  satisfy  his  enemy. 
Besides,  these  people  are  unstable;  they  do  not  even 
indulge  in  hatred  long.  Do  you  know  if  your  com- 
rade has  taken  any  part  in  political  intrigue?" 

"  It's  most  unlikely ;  he  would  make  a  very  poor 
conspirator,"  Jake  replied. 

*'  Then  have  you  heard  of  any  senorita,  or  perhaps 
a  half-breed  girl  who  has  taken  his  fancy?" 

"  No,"  said  Jake.     "  Dick  is  not  that  kind." 

He  thought  Don  Sebastian  had  been  clearing  the 
ground,  eliminating  possibilities  to  which  he  did  not 
attach  much  weight,  and  waited  with  interest  for  his 
remarks. 

"  Well,"  said  the  Spaniard,  "  I  think  you  and  the 
man,  Payne,  should  watch  over  your  friend,  but  it 
might  be  better  if  you  did  not  tell  him  you  are  doing 
so  or  ask  him  any  questions,  and  I  would  sooner  you 
did  not  mention  this  interview.  If,  however,  anything 
suspicious  happens  again,  it  might  be  an  advantage  if 


214    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

you  let  me  know.  You  can  send  word  to  me  at  the 
hotel." 

"  Not  at  Kenwardine's?  " 

Don  Sebastian  gave  him  a  quiet  glance,  but  Jake 
thought  it  was  keenly  observant  and  remembered  how, 
one  night  when  a  messenger  entered  Kenwardine's 
patio,  Richter,  the  German,  had  stood  where  he  ob- 
structed the  Spaniard's  view. 

"  No,"  he  said,  "  I  should  prefer  the  hotel.  Will 
you  promise?  " 

"  I  will,"  Jake  answered  impulsively.  "  However, 
you  seem  to  suggest  that  I  should  leave  my  partner  to 
grapple  with  this  thing  himself  and  I  don't  like  that. 
If  he's  up  against  any  danger,  I  want  to  butt  in. 
Dick's  no  fool,  but  there  are  respects  in  which  he's  not 
very  keen.  His  mind's  fixed  on  concrete,  and  when 
he  gets  off  it  his  imagination's  sometimes  rather 
weak " 

He  stopped,  feeling  that  he  must  not  seem  to  cen- 
sure his  friend,  and  Don  Sebastian  nodded  with  a 
twinkle  of  amusement. 

"  I  think  I  understand.  There  are,  however,  men 
of  simple  character  and  no  cunning  who  are  capable 
of  going  far  and  sometimes  surprise  the  friends  who 
do  not  know  them  very  well.  I  cannot  tell  if  Senor 
Brandon  is  one  of  these,  but  it  is  not  impossible. 
After  all,  it  is  often  the  clever  man  who  makes  the 
worst  mistakes;  and  on  the  whole  I  imagine  it  would 
be  wiser  to  leave  your  comrade  alone." 

He  got  up  and  laid  his  hand  on  Jake's  arm  with  a 
friendly  gesture.  "  Now  I  will  put  you  on  your  way, 
and  if  you  feel  puzzled  or  alarmed  in  future,  you  can 
come  to  me.'* 


CHAPTER  XXI 

DICK    MAKES   A   BOLD  VENTURE 

SOME  delicate  and  important  work  was  being 
done,  and  Stuyvesant  had  had  his  lunch  sent  up 
to  the  dam.  Bethune  and  Dick  joined  him  afterwards, 
and  sat  in  the  shade  of  a  big  traveling  crane.  Stuy- 
vesant and  Dick  were  hot  and  dirty,  for  it  was  not 
their  custom  to  be  content  with  giving  orders  when 
urgent  work  was  going  on.  Bethune  looked  languid 
and  immaculately  neat.  His  speciality  was  mathe- 
matics, and  he  said  he  did  not  see  why  the  man  with 
mental  talents  should  dissipate  his  energy  by  using  his 
hands. 

"  It's  curious  about  that  French  liner,"  Stuyvesant 
presently  remarked.  "  I  understand  her  passengers 
have  been  waiting  since  yesterday  and  she  hasn't  ar- 
rived." 

"  The  last  boat  cut  out  Santa  Brigida  without  no- 
tice," Bethune  replied.  "My  opinion  of  the  French 
is  that  they're  a  pretty  casual  lot." 

"  On  the  surface.  They  smile  and  shrug  where  we 
set  our  teeth,  but  when  you  get  down  to  bed-rock 
you  don't  find  much  difference.  I  thought  as  you 
do,  until  I  went  over  there  and  saw  a  people  that  run 
us  close  for  steady,  intensive  industry.  Their  small 
cultivators  are  simply  great.  I'd  like  to  put  them  on 
our  poorer  land  in  the  Middle  West,  where  we're  con- 

215 


2i6    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

tent  with  sixteen  bushels  of  wheat  that's  most  fit  for 
chicken  feed  to  the  acre.  Then  what  they  don't  know 
about  civil  engineering  isn't  worth  learning." 

Bethune  made  a  gesture  of  agreement.  "  They're 
certainly  fine  engineers  and  they're  putting  up  a  pretty 
good  fight  just  now,  but  these  Latins  puzzle  me.  Take 
the  Iberian  branch  of  the  race,  for  example.  We  have 
Spanish  peons  here  who'll  stand  for  as  much  work 
and  hardship  as  any  Anglo-Saxon  I've  met.  Then  an 
educated  Spaniard's  hard  to  beat  for  intellectual 
subtlety.  Chess  is  a  game  that's  suited  to  my  turn 
of  mind,  but  I've  been  badly  whipped  in  Santa  Brigida. 
They've  brains  and  application,  and  yet  they  don't 
progress.     What's  the  matter  with  them,  anyway  ?  " 

"  I  expect  they  can't  formulate  a  continuous  policy 
and  stick  to  it,  and  they  keep  brains  and  labor  too  far 
apart;  the  two  should  coordinate.  But  I  wonder 
what's  holding  up  the  mail  boat." 

"  Do  they  know  when  she  left  the  last  port?  "  Dick, 
who  had  listened  impatiently,  asked  with  concealed  in- 
terest. 

"  They  do.  It's  a  short  run  and  she  ought  to  have 
arrived  yesterday  morning." 

"  The  Germans  can't  have  got  her.  They  have  no 
commerce-destroyers  in  these  waters,"  Bethune  re- 
marked, with  a  glance  at  Dick.  "  Your  navy  corralled 
the  lot,  I  think." 

Dick  wondered  why  Bethune  looked  at  him,  but  he 
answered  carelessly:  "  So  one  understands.  But  it's 
strange  the  French  company  cut  out  the  last  call. 
There  was  a  big  quantity  of  freight  on  the  mole." 

"  It  looks  as  if  the  agent  had  suspected  something," 
Stuyvesant  replied.     "  However,  that's  not  our  affair. 


DICK  MAKES  A  BOLD  VENTURE     217 

and  you  want  to  get  busy  and  have  your  specifications 
and  cost-sheets  straight  when  Fuller  comes." 

"  Then  Fuller  is  coming  back ! "  Dick  exclaimed. 

"  He'll  be  here  to-morrow  night.  I  imagined 
Bethune  had  told  you  about  the  cablegram  he  sent." 

"  He  didn't ;  I  expect  he  thought  his  getting  a 
scratch  lunch  more  important,"  Dick  replied,  looking 
at  his  watch.  "  Well,  I  must  see  everything's  ready 
before  the  boys  make  a  start." 

He  went  away  with  swift,  decided  steps  through  the 
scorching  heat,  and  Stuyvesant  smiled. 

"  There  you  have  a  specimen  of  the  useful  Anglo- 
Saxon  type.  I  don't  claim  that  he's  a  smart  man  all 
round,  but  he  can  concentrate  on  his  work  and  put 
over  what  he  takes  in  hand.  You  wouldn't  go  to  him 
for  a  brilliant  plan,  but  give  him  an  awkward  job 
and  he'll  make  good.  I  expect  he'll  get  a  lift  up  when 
Fuller  has  taken  a  look  round." 

"  He  deserves  it,"  Bethune  agreed. 

Though  the  heat  was  intense  and  the  glare  from  the 
white  dam  dazzling,  Dick  found  work  something  of 
a  relief.  It  was  his  habit  to  fix  his  mind  upon  the 
task  in  which  he  was  engaged;  but  of  late  his  thoughts 
had  been  occupied  by  Clare  and  conjectures  about  the 
Adexe  coaling  station  and  the  strange  black-funnel 
boat.  The  delay  in  the  French  liner's  arrival  had 
made  the  matter  look  more  urgent,  but  he  had  now  an 
excuse  for  putting  off  its  consideration.  His  duty 
to  his  employer  came  first.  There  were  detailed  plans 
that  must  be  worked  out  before  Fuller  came  and  things 
he  would  want  to  know,  and  Dick  sat  up  late  at  night 
in  order  to  have  the  answers  ready. 

Fuller  arrived,  and  after  spending  a  few  days  at  the 


2i8    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

works  came  to  Dick's  shack  one  evening.  For  an 
hour  he  examined  drawings  and  calculations,  asking 
Jake  a  sharp  question  now  and  then,  and  afterwards 
sent  him  away. 

"  You  can  put  up  the  papers  now,"  he  said.  "  We'll 
go  out  on  the  veranda.     It's  cooler  there." 

He  dropped  into  a  canvas  chair,  for  the  air  was 
stagnant  and  enervating,  and  looked  down  at  the  clus- 
tering lights  beside  the  sea  for  a  time.  Then  he  said 
abruptly :  "  Jake  seems  to  know  his  business.  You 
have  taught  him  well." 

"  He  learned  most  himself,"  Dick  answered  mod- 
estly. 

"  Well,"  said  Fuller  with  some  dryness,  "  that's  the 
best  plan,  but  you  put  him  on  the  right  track  and  kept 
him  there;  I  guess  I  know  my  son.  Has  he  made 
trouble  for  you  in  other  ways  ?  " 

"  None  worth  mentioning." 

Fuller  gave  him  a  keen  glance  and  then  indicated 
the  lights  of  the  town. 

"  That's  the  danger-spot.  Does  he  go  down  there 
often?" 

"  No.  I  make  it  as  difficult  as  possible,  but  can't 
stop  him  altogether." 

Fuller  nodded.  "  I  guess  you  used  some  tact,  be- 
cause he  likes  you  and  you'd  certainly  have  had  trouble 
if  you'd  snubbed  him  up  too  hard.  Anyway,  I'm 
glad  to  acknowledge  that  you  have  put  me  in  your 
debt.  You  can  see  how  I  was  fixed.  Bethune's  not 
the  man  to  guide  a  headstrong  lad,  and  Stuyvesant's 
his  boss.  If  he'd  used  any  official  pressure,  Jake 
would  have  kicked.  That's  why  I  wanted  a  steady 
partner  for  him  who  had  no  actual  authority." 


DICK  MAKES  A  BOLD  VENTURE    219 

"  In  a  sense,  you  ran  some  risk  in  choosing  me." 

"  I  don't  know  that  I  chose  you,  to  begin  with," 
Fuller  answered  with  a  twinkle.  "  I  imagine  my 
daughter  made  me  think  as  I  did,  but  I'm  willing  to 
state  that  her  judgment  was  good.  We'll  let  that  go. 
You  have  seen  Jake  at  his  work;  do  you  think  he'll 
make  an  engineer?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  Dick,  and  then  recognizing  friendship's 
claim,  added  bluntly :  "  But  he'll  make  a  better  ar- 
tist.    He  has  the  gift." 

"Well,"  said  Fuller,  in  a  thoughtful  tone,  "we'll 
talk  of  it  again.  In  the  meantime,  he's  learning  how 
big  jobs  are  done  and  dollars  are  earned,  and  that's  a 
liberal  education.  However,  I've  a  proposition  here 
I'd  like  your  opinion  of." 

Dick's  heart  beat  as  he  read  the  document  his  em- 
ployer handed  him.  It  was  a  formal  agreement  by 
which  he  engaged  his  services  to  Fuller  until  the  irri- 
gation work  was  completed,  in  return  for  a  salary  that 
he  thought  remarkably  good. 

"  It's  much  more  than  I  had  any  reason  to  expect," 
he  said  with  some  awkwardness.  "  In  fact,  although 
I  don't  know  that  I  have  been  of  much  help  to  Jake, 
I'd  sooner  you  didn't  take  this  way  of  repaying  me. 
One  would  prefer  not  to  mix  friendship  with  busi- 
ness." 

"  Yours  is  not  a  very  common  view,"  Fuller  re- 
plied, smiling.  "  However,  I'm  merely  offering  to  buy 
your  professional  skill,  and  want  to  know  if  you're 
satisfied  with  my  terms." 

"  They're  generous,"  said  Dick  with  emotion,  for 
he  saw  what  the  change  in  his  position  might  enable 
him  to  do.     "  There's  only  one  thing :  the  agreement 


220    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

is  to  stand  until  the  completion  of  the  dam.  What 
will  happen  afterwards?" 

"  Then  if  I  have  no  more  use  for  you  here,  I  think 
I  can  promise  to  find  you  as  good  or  better  job.  Is 
that  enough  ?  " 

Dick  gave  him  a  grateful  look.  "  It's  difficult  to 
tell  you  how  I  feel  about  it,  but  I'll  do  my  best  to  make 
good  and  show  that  you  have  not  been  mistaken." 

"  That's  all  right,"  said  Fuller,  getting  up.  "  Sign 
the  document  when  you  can  get  a  witness  and  let  me 
have  it." 

He  went  away  and  Dick  sat  down  and  studied  the 
agreement  with  a  beating  heart.  He  found  his  work 
engrossing,  he  liked  the  men  he  was  associated  with, 
and  saw  his  way  to  making  his  mark  in  his  profession, 
but  there  was  another  cause  for  the  triumphant  thrill 
he  felt.  Clare  must  be  separated  from  Kenwardine 
before  she  was  entangled  in  his  dangerous  plots,  and 
he  had  brooded  over  his  inability  to  come  to  her  res- 
cue. Now,  however,  one  obstacle  was  removed.  He 
could  offer  her  some  degree  of  comfort  if  she  could 
be  persuaded  to  marry  him.  It  was  obvious  that  she 
must  be  taken  out  of  her  father's  hands  as  soon  as 
possible,  and  he  determined  to  try  to  gain  her  consent 
next  morning,  though  he  was  very  doubtful  of  his 
success. 

When  he  reached  the  house,  Clare  was  sitting  at 
a  table  in  the  patio  with  some  work  in  her  hand. 
Close  by,  the  purple  creeper  spread  across  the  wall, 
and  the  girl's  blue  eyes  and  thin  lilac  dress  harmonized 
with  its  deeper  color.  Her  face  and  half-covered  arms 
showed  pure  white  against  the  background,  but  the 
delicate  pink  that  had  once  relieved  the  former  was 


DICK  MAKES  A  BOLD  VENTURE    221 

now  less  distinct.  The  hot,  humid  climate  had  begun 
to  set  its  mark  on  her,  and  Dick  thought  she  looked 
anxious  and  perplexed. 

She  glanced  up  when  she  heard  his  step,  and  moving 
quietly  forward  he  stopped  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
table  with  his  hand  on  a  chair.  He  knew  there  was 
much  against  him  and  feared  a  rebuff,  but  delay  might 
be  dangerous  and  he  could  not  wait.  Standing  quietly 
resolute,  he  fixed  his  eyes  on  the  girl's  face. 

"Is  your  father  at  home,  Miss  Kenwardine?"  he 
asked. 

"  No,"  said  Clare.  "  He  went  out  some  time  ago, 
and  I  cannot  tell  when  he  will  come  back.  Do  you 
want  to  see  him  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  yet.     It  depends." 

He  thought  she  was  surprised  and  curious,  but  she 
said  nothing,  and  nerving  himself  for  the  plunge,  he 
resumed :  "  I  came  to  see  you  in  the  first  place.  I'm 
afraid  you'll  be  astonished,  Clare,  but  I  want  to  know 
if  you  will  marry  me." 

She  moved  abruptly,  turned  her  head  for  a  moment, 
and  then  looked  up  at  him  while  the  color  gathered  in 
her  face.  Her  expression  puzzled  Dick,  but  he  imag- 
ined that  she  was  angry. 

"  I  am  astonished.  Isn't  it  a  rather  extraordinary 
request,  after  what  you  said  on  board  the  launch  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  Dick,  "  it's  very  natural  from  my  point 
of  view.  You  see,  I  fell  in  love  with  you  the  first 
time  we  met ;  but  I  got  into  disgrace  soon  afterwards 
and  have  had  a  bad  time  since.  This  made  it  impos- 
sible for  me  to  tell  you  what  I  felt;  but  things  are 
beginning  to  improve " 

He  stopped,  seeing  no  encouragement  in  her  expres- 


222     BK\NDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

sion,  for  Clare  was  fighting  a  hard  battle.  His  blunt 
simplicity  made  a  strong  appeal.  She  had  liked  and 
trusted  him  when  he  had  with  callow  but  honest  chiv- 
alry offered  her  his  protection  one  night  in  England 
and  he  had  developed  fast  since  then.  Hardship  had 
strengthened  and  in  a  sense  refined  him.  He  looked 
resolute  and  soldierlike  as  he  waited.  Still,  for  his 
sake  as  well  as  hers,  she  must  refuse. 

"  Then  you  must  be  easily  moved,"  she  said.  "  You 
knew  nothing  about  me." 

"  I'd  seen  you ;  that  was  quite  enough,"  Dick  de- 
clared and  stopped.  Her  look  was  gentler  and  he 
might  do  better  if  he  could  lessen  the  distance  between 
them  and  take  her  hand;  he  feared  he  had  been  pain- 
fully matter-of-fact.  Perhaps  he  was  right,  but  the 
table  stood  in  the  way,  and  if  he  moved  round  it,  she 
would  take  alarm.  It  was  exasperating  to  be  baulked 
by  a  piece  of  furniture. 

"  Besides,"  he  resumed,  "  when  everybody  doubted 
me,  you  showed  your  confidence.  You  wrote  and 
said " 

"  But  you  told  me  you  tore  up  the  letter,"  Clare 
interrupted. 

Dick  got  confused.  "  I  did ;  I  was  a  fool,  but  the 
way  things  had  been  going  was  too  much  for  me. 
You  ought  to  understand  and  try  to  make  allowances." 

"  I  cannot  understand  why  you  want  to  marry  a  girl 
you  think  a  thief." 

Pulling  himself  together,  Dick  gave  her  a  steady 
look.  "  I  can't  let  that  pass,  though  if  I  begin  to 
argue  I'm  lost.  In  a  way,  I'm  at  your  mercy,  because 
my  defense  can  only  make  matters  worse.  But  I  tried 
to  explain  on  board  the  launch." 


DICK  MAKES  A  BOLD  VENTURE     223 

"  The  explanation  wasn't  very  convincing,"  Clare 
remarked,  turning  her  head.  "  Do  you  still  believe  I 
took  your  papers?" 

"  The  plans  were  in  my  pocket  when  I  reached  your 
house,"  said  Dick,  who  saw  he  must  be  frank.  "  I 
don't  ^now  that  you  took  them,  and  if  you  did,  I 
wouldn't  hold  you  responsible;  but  they  were  taken." 

"You  mean  that  you  blame  my  father  for  their 
loss?" 

Dick  hesitated.  He  felt  that  she  was  giving  him  a 
last  opportunity,  but  he  could  not  seize  it. 

"  If  I  pretended  I  didn't  blame  him,  you  would  find 
me  out  and  it  would  stand  between  us.  I  wish  I  could 
say  I'd  dropped  the  papers  somewhere  or  find  some 
other  way ;  but  the  truth  is  best." 

Clare  turned  to  him  with  a  hot  flush  and  an  angry 
sparkle  in  her  eyes. 

**  Then  it's  unthinkable  that  you  should  marry  the 
daughter  of  the  man  whom  you  believe  ruined  you. 
Don't  you  see  that  you  can't  separate  me  from  my 
father?    We  must  stand  together." 

"  No,"  said  Dick  doggedly,  knowing  that  he  was 
beaten,  "  I  don't  see  that.  I  want  you ;  I  want  to  take 
you  away  from  surroundings  and  associations  that 
must  jar.  Perhaps  it  was  foolish  to  think  you  would 
come,  but  you  helped  to  save  my  life  when  I  was  ill, 
and  I  believe  I  was  then  something  more  to  you  than  a 
patient.     Why  have  you  changed  ?  " 

She  looked  at  him  with  a  forced  and  rather  bitter 
smile.  "  Need  you  ask  ?  Can't  you,  or  won't  you, 
understand  ?  Could  I  marry  my  victim,  which  is  what 
you  are  if  your  suspicions  are  justified?  If  they  are 
not,  you  have  offered  me  an  insult  I  cannot  forgive. 


224    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

It  is  unbearable  to  be  thought  the  daughter  of  a  thief." 
Dick  nerved  himself  for  a  last  effort.  "  What  does 
your  father's  character  matter?  I  want  you.  You 
will  be  safe  from  everything  that  could  hurt  you  if 
you  come  to  me."  He  hesitated  and  then  went  on  in  a 
hoarse,  determined  voice :  "  You  must  come.  I  can't 
let  you  live  among  those  plotters  and  gamblers.  It's 
impossible.  Clare,  when  I  was  ill  and  you  thought  me 
asleep,  I  watched  you  sitting  in  the  moonlight.     Your 

face  was  wonderfully  gentle  and  I  thought " 

She  rose  and  stopped  him  with  a  gesture.  "  There 
is  no  more  to  be  said,  Mr.  Brandon.  I  cannot  marry 
you,  and  if  you  are  generous,  you  will  go." 

Dick,  who  had  been  gripping  the  chair  hard,  let  his 
hand  fall  slackly  and  turned  away.  Clare  watched 
him  cross  the  patio,  and  stood  tensely  still,  fighting 
against  an  impulse  to  call  him  back  as  he  neared  the 
door.  Then  as  he  vanished  into  the  shadow  of  the 
arch  she  sat  down  with  sudden  limpness  and  buried 
her  hot  face  in  her  hands. 


CHAPTER  XXII 

THE  OFFICIAL   MIND 

ON  the  evening  after  Clare's  refusal,  Dick  entered 
the  principal  cafe  at  Santa  Brigida.  The  large, 
open-fronted  room  was  crowded,  for,  owing  to  the 
duty,  newspapers  were  not  generally  bought  by  the 
citizens,  who  preferred  to  read  them  at  the  cafes,  and 
the  Diario  had  just  come  in.  The  eagerness  to  secure 
a  copy  indicated  that  something  important  had  hap- 
pened, and  after  listening  to  the  readers'  remarks,  Dick 
gathered  that  the  French  liner  had  sunk  and  a  number 
of  her  passengers  were  drowned.  This,  however,  did 
not  seem  to  account  for  the  angry  excitement  some  of 
the  men  showed,  and  Dick  waited  until  a  polite  half- 
breed  handed  him  the  newspaper. 

A  ship's  lifeboat,  filled  with  exhausted  passengers, 
had  reached  a  bay  some  distance  along  the  coast,  and 
it  appeared  from  their  stories  that  the  liner  was  steam- 
ing across  a  smooth  sea  in  the  dark  when  a  large  vessel, 
which  carried  no  lights,  emerged  from  a  belt  of  haze 
and  came  towards  her.  The  French  captain  steered 
for  the  land,  hoping  to  reach  territorial  waters,  where 
he  would  be  safe,  but  the  stranger  was  faster  and 
opened  fire  with  a  heavy  gun.  The  liner  held  on, 
although  she  was  twice  hit,  but  after  a  time  there  was 
an  explosion  below  and  her  colored  firemen  ran  up  on 
deck.     Then  the  ship  stopped,  boats  were  hoisted  out, 

225 


226    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

and  it  was  believed  that  several  got  safely  away, 
though  only  one  had  so  far  reached  the  coast.  This 
boat  was  forced  to  pass  the  attacking  vessel  rather 
close,  and  an  officer  declared  that  she  looked  like  one 
of  the  Spanish  liners  and  her  funnel  was  black. 

Dick  gave  the  newspaper  to  the  next  man  and  sat 
still  with  knitted  brows,  for  his  suspicions  were  sud- 
denly confirmed.  The  raider  had  a  black  funnel,  and 
was  no  doubt  the  ship  he  had  seen  steering  for  Adexe. 
An  enemy  commerce-destroyer  was  lurking  about  the 
coast,  and  she  could  not  be  allowed  to  continue  her 
deadly  work,  which  her  resemblance  to  the  Spanish 
vessels  would  make  easier.  For  all  that,  Dick  saw 
that  anything  he  might  do  would  cost  him  much,  since 
Clare  had  said  that  she  and  Kenwardine  must  stand 
together.  This  was  true,  in  a  sense,  because  if  Ken- 
wardine got  into  trouble,  she  would  share  his  disgrace 
and  perhaps  his  punishment.  Moreover,  she  might 
think  he  had  been  unjustly  treated  and  blame  Dick  for 
helping  to  persecute  him.  Things  were  getting  badly 
entangled,  and  Dick,  leaning  back  in  his  chair,  vacantly 
looked  about. 

The  men  had  gathered  in  groups  round  the  tables, 
their  dark  faces  showing  keen  excitement  as  they 
argued  with  dramatic  gestures  about  international  law. 
For  the  most  part,  they  looked  indignant,  but  Dick 
understood  that  they  did  not  expect  much  from  their 
Government.  One  said  the  English  would  send  a 
cruiser  and  something  might  be,  done  by  the  Ameri- 
cans; another  explained  the  Monroe  Doctrine  in  a 
high-pitched  voice.  Dick,  however,  tried  not  to  listen, 
because  difficulties  he  had  for  some  time  seen  ap- 
proaching must  now  be  faced. 


THE  OFFICIAL  MIND  227 

He  had  been  forced  to  leave  England  in  disgrace, 
and  his  offense  would  be  remembered  if  he  returned. 
Indeed,  he  had  come  to  regard  America  as  his  home, 
but  patriotic  feelings  he  had  thought  dead  had  awak- 
ened and  would  not  be  denied.  He  might  still  be  able 
to  serve  his  country  and  meant  to  do  so,  though  it 
was  plain  that  this  would  demand  a  sacrifice.  Love 
and  duty  clashed,  but  he  must  do  his  best  and  leave 
the  rest  to  luck.  Getting  up  with  sudden  resolution, 
he  left  the  cafe  and  went  to  the  British  consulate. 

When  he  stopped  outside  the  building,  to  which  the 
royal  arms  were  fixed,  he  remarked  that  two  peons 
were  lounging  near,  but,  without  troubling  about  them, 
knocked  at  the  door.  There  was  only  a  Vice-Consul 
at  Santa  Brigida,  and  the  post,  as  sometimes  happens, 
was  held  by  a  merchant,  who  had,  so  a  clerk  stated, 
already  gone  home.  Dick,  however,  knew  where  he 
lived  and  determined  to  seek  him  at  his  house.  He 
looked  round  once  or  twice  on  his  way  there,  without 
seeing  anybody  who  seemed  to  be  following  him,  but 
when  he  reached  the  iron  gate  he  thought  a  dark  figure 
stopped  in  the  gloom  across  the  street.  Still,  it  might 
only  be  a  citizen  going  into  his  house,  and  Dick  rang 
the  bell. 

He  was  shown  on  to  a  balcony  where  the  Vice- 
Consul  sat  with  his  Spanish  wife  and  daughter  at  a 
table  laid  with  wine  and  fruit.  He  did  not  look 
pleased  at  being  disturbed,  but  told  Dick  to  sit  down 
when  the  ladies  withdrew. 

"  Now,"  he  said,  "  you  can  state  your  business,  but 
I  have  an  appointment  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour." 

Dick  related  his  suspicions  about  the  coaling  com- 
pany, and  described  what  he  had  seen  at  Adexe  and 


228    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

the  visit  of  the  black-funnel  boat,  but  before  he  had 
gone  far,  realized  that  he  was  wasting  his  time.  The 
Vice-Consul's  attitude  was  politely  indulgent. 

"  This  is  a  rather  extraordinary  tale,"  he  remarked 
when  Dick  stopped. 

*'  I  have  told  you  what  I  saw  and  what  I  think  it 
implies,"  Dick  answered  with  some  heat. 

"  Just  so.  I  do  not  doubt  your  honesty,  but  it  is 
difficult  to  follow  your  arguments." 

"  It  oughtn't  to  be  difficult.  You  have  heard  that 
the  French  liner  was  sunk  by  a  black-funnel  boat." 

"  Black  funnels  are  common.  Why  do  you  imagine 
the  vessel  you  saw  was  an  auxiliary  cruiser?  " 

"  Because  her  crew  looked  like  navy  men.  They 
were  unusually  numerous  and  were  busy  at  drill." 

"  Boat  or  fire  drill  probably.  They  often  exercise 
them  at  it  on  board  passenger  ships.  Besides,  I  think 
you  stated  that  it  was  dark." 

Dick  pondered  for  a  few  moments.  He  had  heard 
that  Government  officials  were  hard  to  move,  and  knew 
that,  in  hot  countries,  Englishmen  who  marry  native 
wives  sometimes  grow  apathetic  and  succumb  to  the 
climatic  lethargy.  But  this  was  not  all :  he  had  to 
contend  against  the  official  dislike  of  anything  in- 
formal and  unusual.  Had  he  been  in  the  navy,  his 
warning  would  have  received  attention,  but  as  he  was 
a  humble  civilian  he  had,  so  to  speak,  no  business  to 
know  anything  about  such  matters. 

"  Well,"  he  said,  "  you  can  make  inquiries  and  see 
if  my  conclusions  are  right." 

The  Vice-Consul  smiled.  "  That  is  not  so.  You 
can  pry  into  the  coaling  company's  affairs  and,  if  you 
are  caught,  it  would  be  looked  upon  as  an  individual 


THE  OFFICIAL  MIND  229 

impertinence.  If  I  did  anything  of  the  kind,  it  would 
reflect  upon  the  Foreign  Office  and  compromise  our 
relations  with  a  friendly  state.  The  Adexe  wharf  is 
registered  according  to  the  laws  of  this  country  as 
being  owned  by  a  native  company." 

"  Then  go  to  the  authorities  and  tell  them  what  you 
know." 

"  The  difficulty  is  that  I  know  nothing  except  that 
you  have  told  me  a  somewhat  improbable  tale." 

*'  But  you  surely  don't  mean  to  let  the  raider  do 
what  she  likes?  Her  next  victim  may  be  a  British 
vessel." 

"  I  imagine  the  British  admiralty  will  attend  to  that, 
and  I  have  already  sent  a  cablegram  announcing  the 
loss  of  the  French  boat." 

Dick  saw  that  he  was  doubted  and  feared  that  argu- 
ment would  be  useless,  but  he  would  not  give  in. 

"  A  raider  must  have  coal  and  it's  not  easy  to  get 
upon  this  coast,"  he  resumed.  "  You  could  render 
her  harmless  by  cutting  off  supplies." 

"  Do  you  know  much  about  international  law  and 
how  far  it  prohibits  a  neutral  country  from  selling 
coal  to  a  belligerent  ?  " 

"I  don't  know  anything  about  it;  but  if  our  For- 
eign Office  is  any  good,  they  ought  to  be  able  to  stop 
the  thing,"  Dick  answered  doggedly. 

"  Then  let  me  try  to  show  you  how  matters  stand. 
We  will  suppose  that  your  suspicions  were  correct  and 
I  thought  fit  to  make  representations  to  the  Govern- 
ment of  this  country.  What  do  you  think  would  hap- 
pen?" 

"  They'd  be  forced  to  investigate  your  statements." 

"  Exactly.     The  head  of  a  department  would  be 


230    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

asked  to  report.  You  probably  know  that  every  of- 
ficial whose  business  brings  him  into  touch  with  it 
is  in  the  coaling  company's  pay;  I  imagine  there  is 
not  a  foreign  trader  here  who  does  not  get  small  fa- 
vors in  return  for  bribes.  Bearing  this  in  mind,  it 
is  easy  to  understand  what  the  report  would  be.  I 
should  have  shown  that  we  suspected  the  good  faith 
of  a  friendly  country,  and  there  would  be  nothing 
gained." 

"  Still,  you  can't  let  the  matter  drop,"  Dick  insisted. 

"  Although  you  have  given  me  no  proof  of  your 
statements,  which  seem  to  be  founded  on  conjectures, 
I  have  not  said  that  I  intend  to  let  it  drop.  In  the 
meantime  I  am  entitled  to  ask  for  some  information 
about  yourself.  You  look  like  an  Englishman  and 
have  not  been  here  long.  Did  you  leave  home  after 
the  war  broke  out?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  Dick,  who  saw  where  he  was  leading, 
"  very  shortly  afterwards." 

"  Why?     Men  like  you  are  needed  for  the  army." 

Dick  colored,  but  looked  his  questioner  steadily  in 
the  face. 

*'  I  was  in  the  army.     They  turned  me  out." 

The  Vice-Consul  made  a  gesture.  "  I  have  nothing 
to  do  with  the  reason  for  this;  but  you  can  see  my  dif- 
ficulty. You  urge  me  to  meddle  with  things  that  re- 
quire very  delicate  handling  and  with  which  my  inter- 
ference would  have  to  be  justified.  No  doubt,  you 
can  imagine  the  feelings  of  my  superiors  when  I  ad- 
mitted that  I  acted  upon  hints  given  me  by  a  stranger 
in  the  employ  of  Americans,  who  owned  to  having 
been  dismissed  from  the  British  army." 

Dick  got  up,  with  his  face  firmly  set. 


THE  OFFICIAL  MIND  231 

"  Very  well.  There's  no  more  to  be  said.  I  won't 
trouble  you  again." 

Leaving  the  house,  he  walked  moodily  back  to  the 
end  of  the  line.  The  Vice-Consul  was  a  merchant 
and  thought  first  of  his  business,  which  might  suffer 
if  he  gained  the  ill-will  of  corrupt  officials.  He  would, 
no  doubt,  move  if  he  were  forced,  but  he  would  de- 
mand incontestable  proof,  which  Dick  feared  he  could 
not  find.  Well,  he  had  done  his  best  and  been  re- 
buffed, and  now  the  temptation  to  let  the  matter  drop 
was  strong.  To  go  on  would  bring  him  into  con- 
flict with  Kenwardine,  and  perhaps  end  in  his  losing 
Clare,  but  he  must  go  on.  For  all  that,  he  would 
leave  the  Vice-Consul  alone  and  trust  to  getting  some 
help  from  his  employer's  countrymen.  If  it  could 
be  shown  that  the  enemy  was  establishing  a  secret 
base  for  naval  operations  at  Adexe,  he  thought  the 
Americans  would  protest.  The  Vice-Consul,  how- 
ever, had  been  of  some  service  by  teaching  him  the 
weakness  of  his  position.  He  must  strengthen  it  by 
carefully  watching  what  went  on,  and  not  interfere 
until  he  could  do  so  with  effect.  Finding  the  locomo- 
tive waiting,  he  returned  to  his  shack  and  with  an 
effort  fixed  his  mind  upon  the  plans  of  some  work  that 
he  must  superintend  in  the  morning. 

For  the  next  few  days  he  was  busily  occupied.  A 
drum  of  the  traveling  crane  broke  and  as  it  could  not 
be  replaced  for  a  time,  Dick  put  up  an  iron  derrick 
of  Bethune's  design  to  lower  the  concrete  blocks  into 
place.  They  were  forced  to  use  such  material  as  they 
could  find,  and  the  gang  of  peons  who  handled  the 
chain-tackle  made  a  poor  substitute  for  a  steam  en- 
gine.    In  consequence,  the  work  progressed  slowly  and 


232     BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

Stuyvesant  ordered  it  to  be  carried  on  into  the  night. 
Jake  and  Bethune  grumbled,  but  Dick  found  the  longer 
hours  and  extra  strain  something  of  a  relief.  He  had 
now  no  leisure  to  indulge  in  painful  thoughts;  be- 
sides, while  he  was  busy  at  the  dam  he  could  not 
watch  Kenwardine,  and  his  duty  to  his  employer  jus- 
tified his  putting  off  an  unpleasant  task. 

One  hot  night  he  stood,  soaked  with  perspiration 
and  dressed  in  soiled  duck  clothes,  some  distance  be- 
neath the  top  of  the  dam,  which  broke  down  to  a 
lower  level  at  the  spot.  There  was  no  moon,  but  a 
row  of  blast-lamps  that  grew  dimmer  as  they  receded 
picked  out  the  tall  embankment  with  jets  of  pulsating 
flame.  Glimmering  silvery  gray  in  the  light,  it  cut 
against  the  gloom  in  long  sweeping  lines,  with  a 
molded  rib  that  added  a  touch  of  grace  where  the 
slope  got  steeper  towards  its  top.  This  was  Dick's 
innovation.  He  had  fought  hard  for  it  and  when 
Jake  supported  him  Stuyvesant  had  written  to  Fuller, 
who  sanctioned  the  extra  cost.  The  rib  marked  the 
fine  contour  of  the  structure  and  fixed  its  bold  curve 
upon  the  eye. 

Where  the  upper  surface  broke  off,  two  gangs  of 
men  stood  beside  the  tackles  that  trailed  away  from 
the  foot  of  the  derrick.  The  flame  that  leaped  with 
a  roar  from  a  lamp  on  a  tripod  picked  out  some  of 
the  figures  with  harsh  distinctness,  but  left  the  rest 
dim  and  blurred.  Dick  stood  eight  or  nine  feet  be- 
low, with  the  end  of  the  line,  along  which  the  blocks 
were  brought,  directly  above  his  head.  A  piece  of 
rail  had  been  clamped  across  the  metals  to  prevent  the 
truck  running  over  the  edge.  Jake  stood  close  by 
on  the  downward  slope  of  the  dam.     Everything  was 


THE  OFFICIAL  MIND  233 

ready  for  the  lowering  of  the  next  block,  but  they  had 
a  few  minutes  to  wait. 

"  That  rib's  a  great  idea,"  Jake  remarked.  "  Tones 
up  the  w^hole  work;  it's  curious  what  you  can  do  with 
a  flowing  line,  but  it  must  be  run  just  right.  Make 
it  the  least  too  flat  and  you  get  harshness,  too  full  and 
the  effect's  vulgarly  pretty  or  voluptuous.  Beauty's 
severely  chaste  and  I  allow,  as  far  as  form  goes,  this 
dam's  a  looker."  He  paused  and  indicated  the  indigo 
sky,  flaring  lights,  and  sweep  of  pearly  stone.  "  Then 
if  you  want  color,  you  can  revel  in  silver,  orange,  and 
blue." 

Dick,  who  nodded,  shared  Jake's  admiration.  He 
had  helped  to  build  the  dam  and,  in  a  sense,  had  come 
to  love  it.  Any  defacement  or  injury  to  it  would  hurt 
him.  Just  then  a  bright,  blinking  spot  emerged  from 
the  dark  at  the  other  end  of  the  line  and  increased  in 
radiance  as  it  came  forward,  flickering  along  the  slope, 
of  stone.  It  was  the  head-lamp  of  the  locomotive 
that  pushed  the  massive  concrete  block  they  waited 
for.  The  block  cut  off  the  light  immediately  in  front 
of  and  below  it,  and  when  the  engine,  snorting  harshly, 
approached  the  edge  of  the  gap  somebody  shouted 
and  steam  was  cut  off.  The  truck  stopped  just  short 
of  the  rail  fastened  across  the  line,  and  Dick  looked 
up. 

The  blast-lamp  flung  its  glare  upon  the  engine  and 
the  rays  of  the  powerful  head-light  drove  horizontally 
into  the  dark,  but  the  space  beyond  the  broken  end 
of  the  dam  was  kept  in  shadow  by  the  block,  and  the 
glitter  above  dazzled  his  eyes. 

"  Swing  the  derrick-boom  and  tell  the  engineer  to 
come  on  a  yard  or  two,"  he  said. 


234    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

There  was  a  patter  of  feet,  a  rattle  of  chains,  and 
somebody  called:     "  Adelante  locomotura!  " 

The  engine  snorted,  the  wheels  ground  through  the 
fragments  of  concrete  scattered  about  the  line,  and 
the  big  dark  mass  rolled  slowly  forward.  It  seemed 
to  Dick  to  be  going  farther  than  it  ought,  but  he  had 
ascertained  that  the  guard-rail  was  securely  fastened. 
As  he  watched  the  front  of  the  truck,  Jake,  who  stood 
a  few  feet  to  one  side,  leaned  out  and  seized  his  shoul- 
der. 

"  Jump !  "  he  cried,  pulling  him  forward. 

Dick  made  an  awkward  leap,  and  alighting  on  the 
steep  front  of  the  dam,  fell  heavily  on  his  side.  As 
he  clutched  the  stones  to  save  himself  from  sliding 
down,  a  black  mass  plunged  from  the  line  above  and 
there  was  a  deafening  crash  as  it  struck  the  spot  he 
had  left.  Then  a  shower  of  fragments  fell  upon  him 
and  he  choked  amidst  a  cloud  of  dust.  Hoarse  shouts 
broke  out  above,  and  he  heard  men  running  about  the 
dam  as  he  got  up,  half  dazed. 

"Are  you  all  right,  Jake?"  he  asked. 

"  Not  a  scratch,"  was  the  answer ;  and  Dick,  scram- 
bling up  the  bank,  called  for  a  lamp. 

It  was  brought  by  a  big  mulatto,  and  Dick  held  up 
the  light.  The  last-fitted  block  of  the  ribbed  course 
was  split  in  two,  and  the  one  that  had  fallen  was 
scattered  about  in  massive  broken  lumps.  Amidst 
these  lay  the  guard-rail,  and  the  front  wheels  of  the 
truck  hung  across  the  gap  above.  There  was  other 
damage,  and  Dick  frowned  as  he  looked  about. 

"  We'll  be  lucky  if  we  get  the  broken  molding  out 
in  a  day,  and  I  expect  we'll  have  to  replace  two  of 
the  lower  blocks,"  he  said.     "  It's  going  to  be  an  awk- 


THE  OFFICIAL  MIND  235 

ward  and  expensive  job  now  that  the  cement  has  set." 

"  Is  that  all  ?  "  Jake  asked  with  a  forced  grin. 

"  It's  enough,"  said  Dick.  "  However,  we'll  be  bet- 
ter able  to  judge  in  the  daylight." 

Then  he  turned  to  the  engineer,  who  was  standing 
beside  the  truck,  surrounded  by  excited  peons.  "  How 
did  it  happen  ?  " 

"  I  had  my  hand  on  the  throttle  when  I  got  the 
order  to  go  ahead,  and  let  her  make  a  stroke  or  two, 
reckoning  the  guard-rail  would  snub  up  the  car.  I 
heard  the  wheels  clip  and  slammed  the  link-gear  over, 
because  it  looked  as  if  she  wasn't  going  to  stop.  When 
she  reversed,  the  couplings  held  the  car  and  the  block 
slipped  off." 

"  Are  you  sure  you  didn't  give  her  too  much 
steam?  " 

"  No,  sir.  I've  been  doing  this  job  quite  a  while, 
and  know  just  how  smart  a  push  she  wants.  It  was 
the  guard-rail  slipping  that  made  the  trouble." 

"  I  can't  understand  why  it  did  slip.  The  fastening 
clamps  were  firm  when  I  looked  at  them." 

"  Well,"  remarked  the  engineer,  "  the  guard's  cer- 
tainly in  the  pit,  and  I  felt  her  give  as  soon  as  the  car- 
wheels  bit." 

Dick  looked  hard  at  him  and  thought  he  spoke  the 
truth.     He  was  a  steady  fellow  and  a  good  driver. 

"  Put  your  engine  in  the  house  and  take  down  the 
feed-pump  you  were  complaining  about.  We  won't 
want  her  to-morrow,"  he  said,  and  dismissing  the  men, 
returned  to  his  shack,  where  he  sat  down  rather  limply 
on  the  veranda. 

"  I  don't  understand  the  thing."  he  said  to  Jake. 
"  The  guard-rail's  heavy  and  I  watched  the  smith  make 


236    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

the  clamps  we  fixed  it  with.  One  claw  went  over  the 
rail,  the  other  under  the  flange  of  the  metal  that  formed 
the  track,  and  sudden  pressure  would  jamb  the  guard 
down.  Then,  not  long  before  the  accident,  I  hardened 
up  the  clamp." 

"  You  hit  it  on  the  back  ?  " 

"Of  course.  I'd  have  loosened  the  thing  by  hitting 
the  front." 

"  That's  so,"  Jake  agreed,  somewhat  dryly.  "  Well 
look  for  the  clamps  in  the  morning.  But  you  didn't 
seem  very  anxious  to  get  out  of  the  way." 

"  I  expect  I  forgot  to  thank  you  for  warning  me. 
Anyhow,  you  know " 

"  Yes,  I  know,"  said  Jake.  "  You  didn't  think  about 
it;  your  mind  was  on  your  job.  Still,  I  suppose  you 
see  that  if  you'd  been  a  moment  later  you'd  have 
been  smashed  pretty  flat?" 

Dick  gave  him  a  quick  glance.  There  was  some- 
thing curious  about  Jake's  tone,  but  Dick  knew  he  did 
not  mean  to  emphasize  the  value  of  his  warning.  It 
was  plain  that  he  had  had  a  very  narrow  escape,  but 
since  one  must  be  prepared  for  accidents  in  heavy 
engineering  work,  he  did  not  see  why  this  should  jar 
his  nerves.  Yet  they  were  jarred.  The  danger  he 
had  scarcely  heeded  had  now  a  disturbing  effect.  He 
could  imagine  what  would  have  happened  had  he  de- 
layed his  leap.  However,  he  was  tired,  and  perhaps 
rather  highly  strung,  and  he  got  up. 

"  It's  late,  and  we  had  better  go  to  bed,"  he  said. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

THE    CLAMP 

WHEN  work  began  next  morning,  Jake  asked 
Dick  if  he  should  order  the  peons  to  search 
for  the  clamps  that  had  held  the  guard-rail. 

"  I  think  not,"  said  Dick.  '*  It  would  be  better  if 
you  looked  for  the  things  yourself." 

"Very  well.     Perhaps  you're  right." 

Dick  wondered  how  much  Jake  suspected,  particu- 
larly as  he  did  not  appear  to  be  searching  for  any- 
thing when  he  moved  up  and  down  among  the  broken 
concrete.  Half  an  hour  later,  when  none  of  the 
peons  were  immediately  about,  he  came  up  with  his 
hand  in  his  pocket  and  indicated  a  corner  beside  a 
block  where  there  was  a  little  shade  and  they  were  not 
likely  to  be  overlooked, 

"  I've  got  one,"  he  remarked. 

When  they  sat  down  Jake  took  out  a  piece  of  thick 
iron  about  six  inches  long,  forged  into  something  like 
the  shape  of  a  U,  though  the  curve  was  different  and 
one  arm  was  shorter  than  the  other.  Much  depended 
on  the  curve,  for  the  thing  was  made  on  the  model 
of  an  old-fashioned  but  efficient  clamp  that  carpen- 
ters sometimes  use  for  fastening  work  to  a  bench.  A 
blow  or  pressure  on  one  part  wedged  it  fast,  but  a 
sharp  tap  on  the  other  enabled  it  to  be  lifted  off.  This 
was  convenient,  because  as  the  work  progressed,  the 

217 


238    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

track  along  the  dam  had  to  be  lengthened  and  the 
guard  fixed  across  a  fresh  pair  of  rails. 

Taking  the  object  from  Jake,  Dick  examined  it 
carefully.  He  thought  he  recognized  the  dint  where 
he  had  struck  the  iron,  and  then,  turning  it  over,  noted 
another  mark.  This  had  been  made  recently,  because 
the  surface  of  the  iron  was  bright  where  the  hammer 
had  fallen,  and  a  blow  there  would  loosen  the  clamp. 
He  glanced  at  Jake,  who  nodded. 

"  It  looks  very  suspicious,  but  that's  all.  You  can't 
tell  how  long  the  mark  would  take  to  get  dull.  Be- 
sides, we  have  moved  the  guard  two  or  three  times  in 
the  last  few  days." 

"That's  true,"  said  Dick.  "Still,  I  wedged  the 
thing  up  shortly  before  the  accident.  It  has  stood 
a  number  of  shocks;  in  fact,  it  can't  be  loosened  by 
pressure  on  the  back.  When  do  you  think  the  last 
blow  was  struck  ?  " 

"  After  yours,"  Jake  answered  meaningly. 

"  Then  the  probability  is  that  somebody  wanted  the 
truck  to  fall  into  the  hole  and  smash  the  block." 

"  Yes,"  said  Jake,  who  paused  and  looked  hard  at 
Dick.  "  But  I'm  not  sure  that  was  all  he  wanted. 
You  were  standing  right  under  the  block,  and  if  I 
hadn't  been  a  little  to  one  side,  where  the  lights  didn't 
dazzle  me,  the  smashing  of  a  lot  of  concrete  wouldn't 
have  been  the  worst  damage." 

Dick  said  nothing,  but  his  face  set  hard  as  he 
braced  himself  against  the  unnerving  feeling  that  had 
troubled  him  on  the  previous  night.  The  great  block 
had  not  fallen  by  accident;  it  looked  as  if  somebody 
had  meant  to  take  his  life.  The  cunning  of  the  at- 
tempt daunted  him.     The  blow  had  been  struck  in  a 


THE  CLAJ^IP  239 

manner  that  left  him  a  very  slight  chance  of  escape; 
and  his  subtle  antagonist  might  strike  again. 

"What  are  you  going  to  do  about  it?"  Jake  re- 
sumed. 

"Nothing,"  said  Dick. 

Jake  looked  at  him  in  surprise.  "  Don't  you  see 
what  you're  up  against?  " 

"  It's  pretty  obvious ;  but  if  I  ask  questions,  I'll  find 
out  nothing  and  show  that  I'm  suspicious.  If  we  let 
the  thing  go  as  an  accident,  we  may  catch  the  fellow 
off  his  guard." 

"  My  notion  is  that  you  know  more  than  you  mean 
to  tell.  Now  you  began  by  taking  care  of  me,  but 
it  looks  as  if  the  matter  would  end  in  my  taking  care 
of  you.  Seems  to  me  you  need  it  and  I  don't  like  to 
see  you  playing  a  lone  hand." 

Dick  gave  him  a  grateful  smile.  "  If  I  see  how 
you  can  help,  I'll  let  you  know.  In  the  meantime, 
you'll  say  nothing  to  imply  that  I'm  on  the  watch." 

"Well,"  said  Jake,  grinning,  "if  you  can  bluff 
Stu)rvesant,  you'll  be  smarter  than  I  thought.  You're 
a  rather  obvious  person  and  he's  not  a  fool." 

He  went  away,  but  Dick  lighted  a  cigarette  and  sat 
still  in  the  shade.  He  was  frankly  daunted,  but  did 
not  mean  to  stop,  for  he  saw  that  he  was  following 
the  right  clue.  His  reason  for  visiting  the  Adexe 
wharf  had  been  guessed.  He  had  been  watched  when 
he  went  to  the  Vice-Consul,  and  it  was  plain  that  his 
enemies  thought  he  knew  enough  to  be  dangerous. 
The  difficulty  was  that  he  did  not  know  who  they 
were.  He  hated  to  think  that  Kenwardine  was  a 
party  to  the  plot,  but  this,  while  possible,  was  by  no 
means  certain.    At  Santa  Brigida,  a  man's  life  was 


240    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

not  thought  of  much  account,  and  it  would,  no  doubt, 
have  been  enough  if  Kenwardine  had  intimated  that 
Dick  might  cause  trouble;  but  then  Kenwardine  must 
have  known  what  was  likely  to  follow  his  hint. 

After  all,  however,  this  was  not  very  important. 
He  must  be  careful,  but  do  nothing  to  suggest  that 
he  understood  the  risk  he  ran.  If  his  antagonists 
thought  him  stupid,  so  much  the  better.  He  saw 
the  difficulty  of  playing  what  Jake  called  a  lone  hand 
against  men  skilled  in  the  intricate  game ;  but  he  could 
not  ask  for  help  until  he  was  sure  of  his  ground.  Be- 
sides, he  must  find  a  way  of  stopping  Kenwardine 
without  involving  Clare.  In  the  meantime  he  had 
a  duty  to  Fuller,  and  throwing  away  his  cigarette,  re- 
sumed his  work. 

Two  or  three  days  later  he  met  Kenwardine  in  a 
cafe  where  he  was  waiting  for  a  man  who  supplied 
some  stores  to  the  camp.  When  Kenwardine  saw 
Dick  he  crossed  the  floor  and  sat  down  at  his  table. 
His  Spanish  dress  became  him,  he  looked  polished 
and  well-bred,  and  it  was  hard  to  think  him  a  confed- 
erate of  half-breed  ruffians  who  would  not  hesitate 
about  murder.  But  Dick  wondered  whether  Clare  had 
told  him  about  his  proposal. 

"  I  suppose  I  may  congratulate  you  on  your  recent 
promotion?  You  certainly  deserve  it,"  Kenwardine 
remarked  with  an  ironical  smile.  "  I  imagine  your 
conscientiousness  and  energy  are  unusual,  but  perhaps 
at  times  rather  inconvenient." 

"  Thanks !  "  said  Dick.  "  How  did  you  hear  about 
the  matter?" 

"  In  Santa  Brigida,  one  hears  everything  that  goes 


THE  CLAMP  241 

on.  We  have  nothing  much  to  do  but  talk  about  our 
neighbors'  affairs." 

Dick  wondered  whether  Kenwardine  meant  to  hint 
that  as  his  time  was  largely  unoccupied  he  had  only 
a  small  part  in  managing  the  coaling  business,  but  he 
said :     "  We  are  hardly  your  neighbors  at  the  camp." 

"  I  suppose  that's  true.  We  certainly  don't  see  you 
often." 

This  seemed  to  indicate  that  Kenwardine  did  not 
know  about  Dick's  recent  visit.  He  could  have  no 
reason  for  hiding  his  knowledge,  and  it  looked  as  if 
Clare  did  not  tell  her  father  everything. 

"  You  have  succeeded  in  keeping  your  young  friend 
out  of  our  way,"  Kenwardine  resumed.  "  Still,  as  he 
hasn't  your  love  of  work  and  sober  character,  there's 
some  risk  of  a  reaction  if  you  hold  him  in  too  hard. 
Jake's  at  an  age  when  it's  difficult  to  be  satisfied  with 
cement." 

Dick  laughed.  "  I  really  did  try  to  keep  him,  but 
was  helped  by  luck.  We  have  been  unusually  busy 
at  the  dam  and  although  I  don't  know  that  his  love 
for  cement  is  strong  he  doesn't  often  leave  a  half- 
finished  job." 

"If  you  work  upon  his  feelings  in  that  way,  I  ex- 
pect you'll  beat  me;  but  after  all,  I'm  not  scheming 
to  entangle  the  lad.  He's  a  bright  and  amusing 
youngster,  but  there  wouldn't  be  much  profit  in  ex- 
ploiting him.  However,  you  have  had  some  accidents 
at  the  dam,  haven't  you  ?  " 

Dick  was  immediately  on  his  guard,  but  he  an- 
swered carelessly:  "We  broke  a  crane-drum,  which 
delayed  us." 


242     BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

"  And  didn't  a  truck  fall  down  the  embankment  and 
do  some  damage  ?  " 

"  It  did,"  said  Dick.  "  We  had  a  big  molded  block, 
which  cost  a  good  deal  to  make,  smashed  to  pieces, 
and  some  others  split.  I  had  something  of  an  escape, 
too,  because  I  was  standing  under  the  block." 

He  was  watching  Kenwardine  and  thought  his  ex- 
pression changed  and  his  easy  pose  stiffened.  His 
self-control  was  good,  but  Dick  imagined  he  was 
keenly  interested  and  surprised. 

"  Then  you  ran  a  risk  of  being  killed?  " 

"  Yes.  Jake,  however,  saw  the  danger  and  warned 
me  just  before  the  block  fell." 

"  That  was  lucky.  But  you  have  a  curious  tem- 
perament. When  we  began  to  talk  of  the  accidents, 
you  remembered  the  damage  to  Fuller's  property  be- 
fore the  risk  to  your  life," 

"  Well,"  said  Dick,  "  you  see  I  wasn't  hurt,  but  the 
damage  still  keeps  us  back." 

"  How  did  the  truck  run  off  the  line  ?  I  should 
have  thought  you'd  have  taken  precautions  against  any- 
thing of  the  kind." 

Dick  pondered.  He  believed  Kenwardine  really 
was  surprised  to  hear  he  had  nearly  been  crushed  by 
the  block;  but  the  fellow  was  clever  and  had  begun 
to  talk  about  the  accidents.  He  must  do  nothing  to 
rouse  his  suspicions,  and  began  a  painstaking  account 
of  the  matter,  explaining  that  the  guard-rail  had  got 
loose,  but  saying  nothing  about  the  clamps  being  tam- 
pered with.  Indeed,  the  trouble  he  took  about  the 
explanation  was  in  harmony  with  his  character  and 
his  interest  in  his  work,  and  presently  Kenwardine 
looked  bored. 


THE  CLAMP  243 

**  I  quite  understand  the  thing,"  he  said,  and  got 
up  as  the  man  Dick  was  waiting  for  came  towards  the 
table. 

The  merchant  did  not  keep  Dick  long,  and  he  left 
the  cafe  feeling  satisfied.  Kenwardine  had  probably 
had  him  watched  and  had  had  something  to  do  with 
the  theft  of  the  sheet  from  his  blotting  pad,  but  knew 
nothing  about  the  attempt  upon  his  life.  After  hear- 
ing about  it,  he  understood  why  the  accident  happened, 
but  had  no  cause  to  think  that  Dick  knew,  and  some 
of  his  fellow  conspirators  were  responsible  for  this 
part  of  the  plot.  Dick  wondered  whether  he  would 
try  to  check  them  now  he  did  know,  because  if  they 
tried  again,  they  would  do  so  with  Kenwardine's  tacit 
consent. 

A  few  days  later,  he  was  sitting  with  Bethune  and 
Jake  one  evening  when  Stuyvesant  came  in  and  threw 
a  card,  printed  with  the  flag  of  a  British  steamship 
company,  on  the  table. 

"  I'm  not  going,  but  you  might  like  to  do  so,"  he 
said. 

Dick,  who  was  nearest,  picked  up  the  card.  It  was 
an  invitation  to  a  dinner  given  to  celebrate  the  first 
call  of  a  large  new  steamship  at  Santa  Brigida,  and 
he  imagined  it  had  been  sent  to  the  leading  citizens 
and  merchants  who  imported  goods  by  the  company's 
vessels.     After  glancing  at  it,  he  passed  it  on. 

"  I'll  go,"  Bethune  remarked.  "  After  the  Spartan 
simplicity  we  practise  at  the  camp,  it  will  be  a  refresh- 
ing change  to  eat  a  well-served  dinner  in  a  mailboat's 
saloon,  though  I've  no  great  admiration  for  British 
cookery." 

"  It  can't  be  worse  than  the  dago  kind  we're  used 


244    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

to,"  Jake  broke  in.  "  What's  the  matter  with  it,  any- 
how?" 

"  It's  like  the  British  character,  heavy  and  unchang- 
ing," Bethune  replied.  "  A  London  hotel  menu,  with 
English  beer  and  whisky,  in  the  tropics!  Only  peo- 
ple without  imagination  would  offer  it  to  their  guests ; 
and  then  they've  printed  a  list  of  the  ports  she's  go- 
ing to  at  the  bottom.  Would  any  other  folk  except 
perhaps  the  Germans,  couple  an  invitation  with  a 
hint  that  they  were  ready  to  trade?  If  a  Spaniard 
comes  to  see  you  on  business,  he  talks  for  half  an 
hour  about  politics  or  your  health,  and  apologizes  for 
mentioning  such  a  thing  as  commerce  when  he  comes 
to  the  point." 

"  The  British  plan  has  advantages,"  said  Stuyves- 
ant.  *'  You  know  what  you're  doing  when  you  deal 
with  them." 

"  That's  so.  We  know,  for  example,  when  this  boat 
will  arrive  at  any  particular  place  and  when  she'll  sail ; 
while  you  can  reckon  on  a  French  liner's  being  three 
or  four  days  late  and  on  the  probability  of  a  Span- 
iard's not  turning  up  at  all.  But  whether  you  have 
revolutions,  wars,  or  tidal  waves,  the  Britisher  sails 
on  schedule." 

"  There's  some  risk  in  that  just  now,"  Stuyvesant 
observed. 

Bethune  turned  to  Jake.  "  You  had  better  come. 
The  card  states  there'll  be  music,  and  the  agent  will 
hire  Vallejo's  band,  which  is  pretty  good.  Guitars, 
mandolins,  and  fiddles  on  the  poop,  and  seiioritas  in 
gauzy  dresses  flitting  through  graceful  dances  in  the 
after  well!  The  entertainment  ought  to  appeal  to 
your  artistic  taste." 


THE  CLAMP  245 

"  I'm  going,"  Jake  replied. 

"  So  am  I,"  said  Dick. 

Jake  grinned.  "That's  rather  sudden,  isn't  it? 
However,  you  may  be  needed  to  look  after  Bethune." 

An  evening  or  tw^o  later,  they  boarded  the  launch 
at  the  town  mole.  The  sea  was  smooth  and  glim- 
mered with  phosphorescence  in  the  shadow  of  the  land, 
for  the  moon  had  not  risen  far  above  the  mountains. 
Outside  the  harbor  mouth,  the  liner's  long,  black  hull 
cut  against  the  dusky  blue,  the  flowing  curve  of  her 
sheer  picked  out  by  a  row  of  lights.  Over  this  rose 
three  white  tiers  of  passenger  decks,  pierced  by  in- 
numerable bright  points,  with  larger  lights  in  constel- 
lations outside,  while  masts  and  funnels  ran  up,  faintly 
indicated,  into  the  gloom  above.  She  scarcely  moved 
to  the  lift  of  the  languid  swell,  but  as  the  undulations 
passed  there  was  a  pale-green  shimmer  about  her 
waterline  that  magnified  the  height  to  her  topmost 
deck.  She  looked  unsubstantial,  rather  like  a  floating 
fairy  palace  than  a  ship,  and  as  the  noisy  launch  drew 
nearer  Jake  gave  his  imagination  rein, 

"  She  was  made,  just  right,  by  magic ;  a  ship  of 
dreams,"  he  said.  "  Look  how  she  glimmers,  splashed 
with  cadmium  radiance,  on  velvety  blue ;  and  her  form- 
lessness outside  the  lights  wraps  her  in  mystery.  Yet 
you  get  a  hint  of  swiftness." 

*'  You  know  she  has  power  and  speed,"  Bethune  in- 
terrupted. 

"  No,"  said  Jake  firmly,  "  it's  not  a  matter  of 
knowledge;  she  appeals  to  your  imagination.  You 
feel  that  airy  fabric  must  travel  like  the  wind."  Then 
he  turned  to  Dick,  who  was  steering.  "  There's  a 
boat  ahead  with  a  freight  of  senoritas  in  white  and 


246    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

orange  gossamer;  they  know  something  about  grace 
of  line  in  this  country.  Are  you  going  to  rush  past 
them,  hke  a  dull  barbarian,  in  this  kicking,  snorting 
launch?" 

"  I'll  make  for  the  other  side  of  the  ship,  if  you 
like." 

"  You  needn't  go  so  far,"  Jake  answered  with  a 
chuckle.  "  But  you  might  muzzle  your  rackety  en- 
gine." 

Dick,  who  had  seen  the  boat,  gave  her  room  enough, 
but  let  the  engine  run.  He  imagined  that  Jake's  mo- 
tive for  slowing  down  might  be  misunderstood  by  the 
senoritas'  guardian,  since  a  touch  of  Moorish  influ- 
ence still  colors  the  Spaniard's  care  of  his  women. 
As  the  launch  swung  to  starboard  her  red  light  shone 
into  the  boat,  and  Dick  recognized  Don  Sebastian  sit- 
ting next  a  stout  lady  in  a  black  dress.  There  were 
three  or  four  girls  beside  them,  and  then  Dick's  grasp 
on  the  tiller  stiffened,  for  the  ruby  beam  picked  out 
Care's  face.  He  thought  it  wore  a  tired  look,  but 
she  turned  her  head,  as  if  dazzled,  and  the  light  passed 
on,  and  Dick's  heart  beat  as  the  boat  dropped  back 
into  the  gloom.  Since  Kenwardine  had  sent  Clare 
with  Don  Sebastian,  he  could  not  be  going,  and  Dick 
might  find  an  opportunity  for  speaking  to  her  alone. 
He  meant  to  do  so,  although  the  interview  would  not 
be  free  from  embarrassment.  Then  he  avoided  an- 
other boat,  and  stopping  the  engine,  steered  for  the 
steamer's  ladder. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

THE   ALTERED  SAILING   LIST 

WHEN  dinner  was  over,  Dick  sat  by  himself 
in  a  quiet  spot  on  the  hner's  quarter-deck. 
There  was  a  tall,  iron  bulwark  beside  him,  but  close 
by  this  was  replaced  by  netted  rails,  through  which 
he  caught  the  pale  shimmer  of  the  sea.  The  warm 
land-breeze  had  freshened  and  ripples  splashed  against 
the  vessel's  side,  while  every  now  and  then  a  languid 
gurgle  rose  from  about  her  waterline  and  the  foam 
her  plates  threw  off  was  filled  with  phosphorescent 
flame.  A  string  band  was  playing  on  the  poop,  and 
passengers  and  guests  moved  through  the  intricate 
figures  of  a  Spanish  dance  on  the  broad  deck  below. 
Their  poses  were  graceful  and  their  dress  was  pictur- 
esque, but  Dick  watched  them  listlessly. 

He  was  not  in  a  mood  for  dancing,  for  he  had  been 
working  hard  at  the  dam  and  his  thoughts  were  dis- 
turbed. Clare  had  refused  him,  and  although  he  did 
not  accept  her  decision  as  final,  he  could  see  no  way 
of  taking  her  out  of  her  father's  hands,  while  he  had 
made  no  progress  towards  unraveling  the  latter's  plots. 
Kenwardine  was  not  on  board,  but  Dick  had  only  seen 
Clare  at  some  distance  off  across  the  table  in  the  saloon. 
Moreover,  he  thought  she  must  have  taken  some 
trouble  to  avoid  meeting  him. 

Then  he  remembered  the  speeches  made  by  the 
247 


248    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

visitors  at  dinner,  and  the  steamship  officers'  replies. 
The  former,  colored  by  French  and  Spanish  polite- 
ness and  American  wit,  eulogized  the  power  of  the 
British  navy  and  the  courage  of  her  merchant  cap- 
tains. There  was  war,  they  said,  but  British  com- 
merce went  on  without  a  check ;  goods  shipped  beneath 
the  red  ensign  would  be  delivered  safe  in  spite  of 
storm  and  strife;  Britannia,  with  trident  poised, 
guarded  the  seas.  For  this  the  boldly-announced  sail- 
ing list  served  as  text,  but  Dick,  who  made  allowances 
for  exuberant  Latin  sentiment,  noted  the  captain's  re- 
sponse with  some  surprise. 

His  speech  was  flamboyant,  and  did  not  harmonize 
with  the  character  of  the  man,  who  had  called  at  the 
port  before  in  command  of  another  ship.  He  was 
gray-haired  and  generally  reserved.  Dick  had  not  ex- 
pected him  to  indulge  in  cheap  patriotism,  but  he 
called  the  British  ensign  the  meteor  flag,  defied  its 
enemies,  and  declared  that  no  hostile  fleets  could  pre- 
vent his  employers  carrying  their  engagements  out. 
Since  the  man  was  obviously  sober,  Dick  supposed  he 
was  touting  for  business  and  wanted  to  assure  the  mer- 
chants that  the  sailings  of  the  company's  steamers  could 
be  relied  upon.  Still,  this  kind  of  thing  was  not  good 
British  form. 

By  and  by  Don  Sebastian  came  down  a  ladder  from 
the  saloon  deck  with  Clare  behind  him.  Dick  felt 
tempted  to  retire  but  conquered  the  impulse  and  the 
Spaniard  came  up. 

"  I  have  some  business  with  the  purser,  who  is  wait- 
ing for  me,  but  cannot  find  my  sefiora,"  he  explained, 
and  Dick,  knowing  that  local  conventions  forbade  his 
leaving  Clare  alone,  understood  it  as  a  request  that 


THE  ALTERED  SAILING  LIST      249 

he  should  take  care  of  her  until  the  other's  return. 

"  I  should  be  glad  to  stay  with  Miss  Kenwardine," 
he  answered  with  a  bow,  and  when  Don  Sebastian  went 
off  opened  a  deck-chair  and  turned  to  the  girl. 

"  You  see  how  I  was  situated !  "  he  said  awkwardly. 

Clare  smiled  as  she  sat  down.  "  Yes ;  you  are  not 
to  blame.  Indeed,  I  do  not  see  why  you  should  apolo- 
gize." 

"  Well,"  said  Dick,  "  I  hoped  that  I  might  meet 
you,  though  I  feared  you  would  sooner  I  did  not. 
When  I  saw  you  on  the  ladder,  I  felt  I  ought  to  steal 
away,  but  must  confess  that  I  was  glad  when  I  found 
it  was  too  late.  Somehow,  things  seem  to  bring  us 
into  opposition.  They  have  done  so  from  the  begin- 
ning." 

"  You're  unnecessarily  frank,"  Clare  answered  with 
a  blush.  "  Since  you  couldn't  steal  away,  wouldn't  it 
have  been  better  not  to  hint  that  I  was  anxious  to 
avoid  you?  After  all,  I  could  have  done  so  if  I  had 
really  wanted." 

"  I  expect  that's  true.  Of  course  what  happened 
when  we  last  met  couldn't  trouble  you  as  it  troubled 
me. 

"Are  you  trying  to  be  tactful  now?"  Clare  asked, 
smiling. 

"  No ;  it's  my  misfortune  that  I  haven't  much  tact. 
If  I  had,  I  might  be  able  to  straighten  matters  out." 

"  Don't  you  understand  that  they  can't  be  straight- 
ened out  ?  " 

"  I  don't,"  Dick  answered  stubbornly.  "  For  all 
that,  I  won't  trouble  you  again  until  I  find  a  way  out 
of  the  tangle." 

Qare  gave  him  a  quick,  disturbed  look.     "  It  would 


250    BRANDON  QF  THE  ENGINEERS 

be  much  better  if  you  took  it  for  granted  that  we 
must,  to  some  extent,  be  enemies." 

"  No.  I'm  afraid  your  father  and  I  are  enemies, 
but  that's  not  the  same." 

"  It  is;  you  can  see  that  it  must  be,"  Clare  insisted; 
and  then,  as  if  anxious  to  change  the  subject,  went 
on :  "  He  was  too  busy  to  bring  me  to-night  so  I 
came  with  Don  Sebastian  and  his  wife.  It  is  not  very 
gay  in  Santa  Brigida  and  one  gets  tired  of  being 
alone." 

Her  voice  fell  a  little  as  she  concluded,  and  Dick, 
who  understood  something  of  her  isolation  from 
friends  of  her  race,  longed  to  take  her  in  his  arms  and 
comfort  her.  Indeed,  had  the  quarter-deck  been  de- 
serted he  might  have  tried,  for  he  felt  that  her  refusal 
had  sprung  from  wounded  pride  and  a  sense  of  duty. 
There  was  something  in  her  manner  that  hinted  that 
it  had  not  been  easy  to  send  him  away.  Yet  he  saw 
she  could  be  firm  and  thought  it  wise  to  follow  her 
lead. 

"  Then  your  father  has  been  occupied  lately,"  he 
remarked. 

"  Yes ;  he  is  often  away.  He  goes  to  Adexe  and  is 
generally  busy  in  the  evenings.  People  come  to  see 
him  and  keep  him  talking  in  his  room.  Our  friends 
no  longer  spend  the  evening  in  the  patio." 

Dick  understood  her.  She  wanted  to  convince  him 
that  Kenwardine  was  a  business  man  and  only  gambled 
when  he  had  nothing  else  to  do.  Indeed,  her  motive 
was  rather  pitifully  obvious,  and  Dick  knew  that  he 
had  not  been  mistaken  about  her  character.  Clare 
had,  no  doubt,  once  yielded  to  her  father's  influence, 
but  it  was  impossible  that  she  took  any  part  in  his 


THE  ALTERED  SAILING  LIST      251 

plots.  She  was  transparently  honest;  he  knew  this 
as  he  watched  her  color  come  and  go. 

"  After  all,  I  don't  think  you  hked  many  of  the  peo- 
ple who  came,"  he  said. 

"  I  liked  Jake,"  she  answered  and  stopped  with  a 
blush,  while  Dick  felt  half  ashamed,  because  he  had 
deprived  her  of  the  one  companion  she  could  trust. 

"  Well,"  he  said,  "  it  isn't  altogether  my  fault  that 
Jake  doesn't  come  to  see  you.  We  have  had  some 
accidents  that  delayed  the  work  and  he  has  not  been 
able  to  leave  the  dam." 

He  was  silent  for  the  next  few  minutes.  Since 
Clare  was  eager  to  defend  Kenwardine,  she  might  be 
led  to  tell  something  about  his  doings  from  which  a 
useful  hint  could  be  gathered,  and  Dick  greatly  wished 
to  know  who  visited  his  house  on  business.  Still,  it 
was  impossible  that  he  should  make  the  girl  betray  her 
father.  The  fight  was  between  him  and  Kenwardine, 
and  Clare  must  be  kept  outside  it.  With  this  resolve, 
he  began  to  talk  about  the  dancing,  and  soon  after- 
ward Jake  came  up  and  asked  Clare  for  the  next  waltz. 
She  smiled  and  gave  Dick  a  challenging  glance. 

"  Certainly,"  he  said  with  a  bow,  and  then  turned 
to  Jake.  "  As  Miss  Kenwardine  has  been  put  in  my 
charge,  you  must  bring  her  back." 

Jake  grinned  as  he  promised  and  remarked  as  they 
went  away :  "  Makes  a  good  duefia,  doesn't  he?  You 
can  trust  Dick  to  guard  anything  he's  told  to  take  care 
of.     In  fact,  if  I'd  a  sister  I  wanted  to  leave  in  safe 

hands -"     He  paused  and  laughed.     "  But  that's 

the  trouble.  It  was  my  sister  who  told  him  to  take 
care  of  me." 

Dick  did  not  hear  Clare's  reply,  but  watched  her 


252     BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

dance  until  Don  Sebastian's  wife  came  up.  After  that 
he  went  away,  and  presently  strolled  along  the  high- 
est deck.  This  was  narrower  than  the  others,  but  was 
extended  as  far  as  the  side  of  the  ship  by  beams  on 
which  the  boats  were  stowed.  There  were  no  rails, 
for  passengers  were  not  allowed  up  there;  but  Dick, 
who  was  preoccupied  and  moody,  wanted  to  be  alone. 
The  moon  had  now  risen  above  the  mountains  and  the 
sea  glittered  between  the  shore  and  the  ship.  Look- 
ing down,  he  saw  a  row  of  boats  rise  and  fall  with 
the  languid  swell  near  her  tall  side,  and  the  flash  of 
the  surf  that  washed  the  end  of  the  mole.  Then,  tak- 
ing out  a  cigarette,  he  strolled  towards  the  captain's 
room,  which  stood  behind  the  bridge,  and  stopped  near 
it  in  the  shadow  of  a  big  lifeboat. 

The  room  was  lighted,  and  the  door  and  windows 
were  half  open  because  the  night  was  hot.  Carelessly 
glancing  in,  Dick  saw  Don  Sebastian  sitting  at  the 
table  with  the  captain  and  engineer.  This  somewhat 
surprised  him,  for  the  purser  transacted  the  ship's 
business  and,  so  far  as  he  knew,  none  of  the  other 
guests  had  been  taken  to  the  captain's  room.  He  felt 
puzzled  about  Don  Sebastian,  whom  he  had  met  once 
or  twice.  The  fellow  had  an  air  of  authority  and 
the  smaller  officials  treated  him  with  respect. 

Something  in  the  men's  attitude  indicated  that  they 
were  talking  confidentially,  and  Dick  thought  he  had 
better  go  away  without  attracting  their  attention;  but 
just  then  the  captain  turned  in  his  chair  and  looked  out. 
Dick  decided  to  wait  until  he  looked  round  again,  and 
next  moment  Don  Sebastian  asked :  "  Have  you 
plenty  coal  ?  " 

"  I  think  so,"  the  engineer  replied.     "  The  after- 


THE  ALTERED  SAILING  LIST      253 

bunkers  are  full,  but  I'd  have  taken  a  few  extra  barge- 
loads  here  only  I  didn't  want  any  of  the  shore  peons 
to  see  how  much  I'd  already  got." 

Dick  did  not  understand  this,  because  coal  was 
somewhat  cheaper  and  the  facilities  for  shipping  it 
were  better  at  the  boat's  next  port  of  call,  to  which 
it  was  only  a  two-days'  run.  Then  the  captain,  who 
turned  to  Don  Sebastian,  remarked: 

"  Making  the  sailing  list  prominent  was  a  happy 
thought,  and  it  was  lucky  your  friends  backed  us  up 
well  by  their  speeches.  You  saw  how  I  took  advan- 
tage of  the  lead  they  gave  me,  but  I  hope  we  haven't 
overdone  the  thing." 

"No,"  said  Don  Sebastian  thoughtfully;  "I  imag- 
ine nobody  suspects  anything  yet." 

"  Perhaps  you  had  better  clear  the  ship  soon,  sir," 
said  the  engineer.  "  Steam's  nearly  up  and  it  takes 
some  coal " 

The  room  door  slipped  off  its  hook  and  swung  wide 
open  as  the  vessel  rolled,  and  Dick,  who  could  not 
withdraw  unnoticed,  decided  to  light  his  cigarette  in 
order  that  the  others  might  see  that  they  were  not 
alone.     As  he  struck  the  match  the  captain  got  up. 

"Who's  that?"  he  asked. 

"  One  of  the  foreign  passengers,  I  expect ;  the  mates 
can't  keep  them  off  this  deck,"  the  engineer  replied. 
"  I  don't  suppose  the  fellow  knows  English,  but  shall 
I  send  him  down  ?  " 

"  I  think  not.  It  might  look  as  if  we  were  afraid 
of  being  overheard." 

Dick  held  the  match  to  his  cigarette  for  a  moment 
or  two  before  he  threw  it  away,  and  as  he  walked 
past  noted  that  Don  Sebastian  had  come  out  on  deck. 


254     BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

Indeed,  he  thought  the  man  had  seen  his  face  and 
was  satisfied,  because  he  turned  back  into  the  room. 
Dick  went  down  a  ladder  to  the  deck  below,  where  he 
stopped  and  thought  over  what  he  had  heard.  It  was 
plain  that  some  precautions  had  been  taken  against 
the  risk  of  capture,  but  he  could  not  understand  why 
Don  Sebastian  had  been  told  about  them. 

By  and  by  he  thought  he  would  speak  to  the  purser, 
whom  he  knew,  and  went  down  the  alleyway  that  led 
to  his  office.  The  door  was  hooked  back,  but  the 
passage  was  narrow  and  a  fat  Spanish  lady  blocked 
the  entrance.  She  was  talking  to  the  purser  and  Dick 
saw  that  he  must  wait  until  she  had  finished.  A  man 
stood  a  few  yards  behind  her,  unscrewing  a  flute,  and 
as  a  folded  paper  that  looked  like  music  stuck  out  of 
his  pocket  he  appeared  to  belong  to  the  band. 

"  But  it  is  Tuesday  you  arrive  at  Palomas !  "  the 
lady  exclaimed. 

"  About  then,"  the  purser  answered  in  awkward 
Castilian.     "  We  may  be  a  little  late." 

"  But  how  much  late  ?  " 

"  I  cannot  tell.     Perhaps  a  day  or  two." 

"  At  dinner  the  captain  said " 

"Just  so.  But  he  was  speaking  generally  without 
knowing  all  the  arrangements." 

Dick  could  not  see  into  the  office,  but  heard  the 
purser  open  a  drawer  and  shuffle  some  papers,  as  if 
he  wanted  to  get  rid  of  his  questioner. 

"  It  is  necessary  that  I  know  when  we  arrive,"  the 
lady  resumed.  "  If  it  is  not  Tuesday,  I  must  send 
a  telegram." 

The  purser  shut  the  drawer  noisily,  but  just  then 


THE  ALTERED  SAILING  LIST      255 

a  bell  rang  overhead  and  the  whistle  blew  to  warn  the 
visitors  that  they  must  go  ashore. 

"  Then  you  must  be  quick,"  said  the  purser. 
"  Write  your  message  here  and  give  it  to  me.  You 
need  not  be  disturbed.     We  will  land  you  at  Palomas." 

The  lady  entered  the  office,  but  Dick  thought  her 
telegram  would  not  be  sent,  and  a  moment  later  the 
captain's  plan  dawned  on  him.  The  ship  would  call 
at  the  ports  named,  but  not  in  the  order  stated,  and 
this  was  why  she  needed  so  much  coal.  She  would 
probably  steam  first  to  the  port  farthest  off  and  then 
work  backward,  and  the  sailing  list  was  meant  to  put 
the  raider  off  the  track.  The  latter's  commander, 
warned  by  spies  who  would  send  him  the  list,  would 
think  he  knew  where  to  find  the  vessel  at  any  par- 
ticular date,  when,  however,  she  would  be  somewhere 
else.  Then  Dick  wondered  why  the  musician  was 
hanging  about,  and  went  up  to  him, 

"The  sobrecargo's  busy,"  he  said  in  English. 
"  You'll  be  taken  to  sea  unless  you  get  up  on  deck." 

"  I  no  wanta  el  sobrecargo,"  the  man  replied  in 
a  thick,  stupid  voice.  "  The  music  is  thirsty ;  I  wanta 
drink." 

The  second-class  bar  was  farther  down  the  alley- 
way, and  Dick,  indicating  it,  turned  back  and  made 
his  way  to  the  poop  as  fast  as  he  could,  for  he  did 
not  think  the  man  was  as  drunk  as  he  looked.  He 
found  the  musicians  collecting  their  stands,  and  went 
up  to  the  bandmaster. 

"  There's  one  of  your  men  below  who  has  been 
drinking  too  much  caiia,"  he  said.  "  You  had  better 
look  after  him." 


256    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

**  But  they  are  all  here,"  the  bandmaster  answered, 
glancing  round  the  poop. 

"  The  man  had  a  flute." 

"  But  we  have  no  flute-player." 

"  Then  he  must  have  been  a  passenger,"  said  Dick, 
who  hurried  to  the  gangway. 

After  hailing  his  fireman  to  bring  the  launch  along- 
side, he  threw  a  quick  glance  about.  The  shore  boat- 
men were  pushing  their  craft  abreast  of  the  ladder 
and  shouting  as  they  got  in  each  other's  way,  but  one 
boat  had  already  left  the  ship  and  was  pulling  fast 
towards  the  harbor.  There  seemed  to  be  only  one 
man  on  board  besides  her  crew,  and  Dick  had  no  doubt 
that  he  was  the  flute-player.  He  must  be  followed, 
since  it  was  important  to  find  out  whom  he  met  and 
if,  as  Dick  suspected,  he  meant  to  send  off  a  telegram. 
But  the  liner's  captain  must  be  warned,  and  Dick 
turned  hastily  around.  The  windlass  was  rattling  and 
the  bridge,  on  which  he  could  see  the  captain's  burly 
figure,  was  some  distance  off,  while  the  passage  be- 
tween the  gangway  and  deckhouse  was  blocked  by  the 
departing  guests. 

The  anchor  would  probably  be  up  before  he  could 
push  his  way  through  the  crowd,  and  if  he  was  not 
carried  off  to  sea,  he  would  certainly  lose  sight  of  the 
spy.  Writing  a  line  or  two  on  the  leaf  of  his  pocket- 
book,  he  tore  it  out  and  held  it  near  a  Creole  steward 
boy. 

"  Take  that  to  the  sobrecargo  at  once,"  he  cried,  and 
seeing  the  boy  stoop  to  pick  up  the  note,  which  fell 
to  the  deck,  ran  down  the  ladder. 

He  had,  however,  to  wait  a  minute  while  the  fire- 
man brought  the  launch  alongside  between  the  other 


THE  ALTERED  SAILING  LIST      257 

boats,  and  when  they  pushed  off  Don  Sebastian,  scram- 
bhng  across  one  of  the  craft,  jumped  on  board.  He 
smiled  when  Dick  looked  at  him  with  annoyed  sur- 
prise. 

**  I  think  my  business  is  yours,  but  there  is  no  time 
for  explanations,"  he  said.  "  Tell  your  man  to  go  full 
speed." 

The  launch  quivered  and  leaped  ahead  with  the  foam 
curling  at  her  bows,  and  Dick  did  not  look  round  when 
he  heard  an  expostulating  shout.  Jake  and  Bethune 
must  get  ashore  as  they  could ;  his  errand  was  too  im- 
portant to  stop  for  them,  particularly  as  he  could  no 
longer  see  the  boat  in  front.  She  had  crossed  the 
glittering  belt  of  moonlight  and  vanished  into  the 
shadow  near  the  mole.  Her  occupant  had  had  some 
minutes'  start  and  had  probably  landed,  but  it  might 
be  possible  to  find  out  where  he  had  gone. 

"  Screw  the  valve  wide  open,"  Dick  told  the  fire- 
man. 

The  rattle  of  the  engine  quickened  a  little,  the  launch 
lifted  her  bows,  and  her  stern  sank  into  the  hollow  of 
a  following  wave.  When  she  steamed  up  the  harbor 
a  boat  lay  near  some  steps,  and  as  the  launch  slackened 
speed  Dick  asked  her  crew  which  way  their  passenger 
had  gone. 

"Up  the  mole,  sefior,"  one  answered  breathlessly. 

"  It  is  all  you  will  learn  from  them,"  Don  Sebas- 
tian remarked.  "  I  think  we  will  try  the  telegraUa 
first.*' 

There  was  no  time  for  questions  and  Dick  jumped 
out  as  the  launch  ran  alongside  the  steps.  Don  Se- 
bastian stopped  him  when  he  reached  the  top. 

"  In  Santa  Brigida,  nobody  runs  unless  there  is  an 


258    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

earthquake  or  a  revolution.  We  do  not  want  people 
to  follow  us." 

Dick  saw  the  force  of  this  and  started  for  the  tele- 
graph office,  walking  as  fast  as  possible.  When  he 
looked  round,  his  companion  had  vanished,  but  he  re- 
joined him  on  the  steps  of  the  building.  They  went 
in  together  and  found  nobody  except  a  languid  clerk 
leaning  on  a  table.  Don  Sebastian  turned  to  Dick  and 
said  in  English,  "  It  will  be  better  if  you  leave  this 
matter  to  me." 

Dick  noted  that  the  clerk  suddenly  became  alert 
when  he  saw  his  companion,  but  he  waited  at  a  few 
yards'  distance  and  Don  Sebastian  said :  "  A  man 
came  in  not  long  since  with  a  telegram.  He  was  short 
and  very  dark  and  probably  signed  the  form  Vinoles." 

"  He  did,  sefior,"  said  the  clerk. 

"Very  well.  I  want  to  see  the  message  before  it 
is  sent." 

"  It  has  gone,  sefior,  three  or  four  minutes  ago." 

Don  Sebastian  made  a  gesture  of  resignation, 
spreading  out  his  hands.     "  Then  bring  me  the  form." 

Dick  thought  it  significant  that  the  clerk  at  once 
obeyed,  but  Don  Sebastian,  who  stood  still  for  a  mo- 
ment, turned  to  him. 

*'  It  is  as  I  thought,"  he  said  in  English,  and  ordered 
the  clerk :     "  Take  us  into  the  manager's  room." 

The  other  did  so,  and  after  shutting  the  door  with- 
drew.    Don  Sebastian  threw  the  form  on  the  table. 

"  It  seems  we  are  too  late,"  he  said. 


CHAPTER  XXV 

THE    WATER-PIPE 

DICK  sat  down  and  knitted  his  brows  as  he  studied 
his  companion.  Don  Sebastian  was  a  Penin- 
sular Spaniard  and  in  consequence  of  a  finer  type  than 
the  majority  of  the  inhabitants  of  Santa  Brigida. 
Dick,  who  thought  he  could  confide  in  him,  needed 
help,  but  the  matter  was  delicate.  In  the  meantime, 
the  other  waited  with  a  smile  that  implied  that  he 
guessed  his  thoughts,  until  Dick,  leaning  forward  with 
sudden  resolution,  picked  up  the  telegram,  which  was 
written  in  cipher. 

"  This  is  probably  a  warning  to  somebody  that  the 
vessel  will  not  call  at  the  ports  in  the  advertised  order," 
he  said. 

"  I  imagine  so.  You  guessed  the  captain's  plan 
from  what  you  heard  outside  the  room  ?  " 

"  Not  altogether,  but  it  gave  me  a  hint.  It  looks 
as  if  you  recognized  me  when  I  was  standing  near  the 
lifeboat." 

"  I  did,"  said  Don  Sebastian  meaningly.  "  I  think 
I  showed  my  confidence  in  you." 

Dick  nodded,  because  it  was  plain  that  the  other  had 
enabled  him  to  go  away  without  being  questioned. 

"  Very  well ;  I'll  tell  you  what  I  know,"  he  said,  and 
related  how  he  had  found  the  man  with  the  flute  loiter- 
ing about  the  purser's  door.  As  he  finished,  Don  Se- 
bastian got  up. 

259 


26o     BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

"  You  made  one  mistake ;  you  should  have  given 
your  note  to  an  Englishman  and  not  a  young  Creole 
lad.  However,  v^e  must  see  if  the  steamer  can  be 
stopped." 

He  led  the  way  up  a  staircase  to  the  flat  roof,  where 
Dick  ran  to  the  parapet.  Looking  across  the  town, 
he  saw  in  the  distance  a  dim  white  light  and  a  long 
smear  of  smoke  that  trailed  across  the  glittering  sea. 
He  frowned  as  he  watched  it,  for  the  ship  was  Eng- 
lish and  he  felt  himself  responsible  for  the  safety  of 
all  on  board  her.  He  had  done  his  best,  when  there 
was  no  time  to  pause  and  think,  but  perhaps  he  had 
blundered.  Suppose  the  Creole  boy  had  lost  his  note 
or  sent  it  to  somebody  ashore? 

"  We  are  too  late  again,"  Don  Sebastian  remarked 
as  he  sat  down  on  the  parapet.  "  Well,  one  must  be 
philosophical.  Things  do  not  always  go  as  one  would 
wish." 

"  Why  didn't  you  warn  the  captain  that  his  plan 
was  found  out,  instead  of  jumping  into  the  launch?  " 
Dick  asked  angrily. 

Don  Sebastian  smiled.  "  Because  I  did  not  know. 
I  saw  a  man  steal  down  the  ladder  and  thought  he 
might  be  a  spy,  but  could  not  tell  how  much  he  had 
learned.  If  he  had  learned  nothing,  it  would  have 
been  dangerous  for  the  captain  to  change  his  plan 
again  and  keep  to  the  sailing  list." 

"  That's  true,"  Dick  agreed  shortly.  His  chin  was 
thrust  forward  and  his  head  slightly  tilted  back.  He 
looked  very  English  and  aggressive  as  he  resumed: 
"  But  I  want  to  know  what  your  interest  in  the  mat- 
ter is." 

"  Then  I  must  tell  you.     To  begin  with,  I  am  em- 


THE  WATER-PIPE  261 

ployed  by  the  Government  and  am  in  the  President's 
confidence.  The  country  is  poor  and  depends  for  its 
development  on  foreign  capital,  while  it  is  important 
that  we  should  have  the  support  and  friendship  of 
Great  Britain  and  the  United  States.  Perhaps  you 
know  the  latter's  jealousy  about  European  interference 
in  American  affairs  ?  " 

Dick  nodded.  "  You  feel  you  have  to  be  careful. 
But  how  far  can  a  country  go  in  harboring  a  belliger- 
ent's agents  and  supplying  her  fighting  ships,  without 
losing  its  neutrality  ?  " 

"  That  is  a  difficult  question,"  Don  Sebastian  replied. 
"  I  imagine  the  answer  depends  upon  the  temper  of 
the  interested  country's  diplomatic  representatives; 
but  the  President  means  to  run  no  risks.  We  cannot, 
for  example,  have  it  claimed  that  we  allowed  a  foreign 
power  to  buy  a  coaling  station  and  use  it  as  a  base 
for  raids  on  merchant  ships." 

"  Have  the  Germans  bought  the  Adexe  wharf  ?  " 

Don  Sebastian  shrugged,  "  Quien  sabef  The 
principal  has  not  a  German  name." 

"Isn't  Richter  German?" 

"  Richter  has  gone.  It  is  possible  that  he  has  done 
his  work.  His  friend,  however,  is  the  head  of  the 
coaling  company." 

"Do  you  think  Kenwardine  was  his  partner?  If 
so,  it's  hard  to  understand  why  he  let  you  come  to  his 
house.     He's  not  a  fool." 

The  Spaniard's  dark  eyes  twinkled.  "  Senor  Ken- 
wardine is  a  clever  man,  and  it  is  not  always  safer  to 
keep  your  antagonist  in  the  dark  when  you  play  an 
intricate  game.  Sefior  Kenwardine  knew  it  would 
have  been  a  mistake  to  show  he  thought  I  suspected 


262     BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

him  and  that  he  had  something  to  conceal.  We  were 
both  very  frank,  to  a  point,  and  now  and  then  talked 
about  the  complications  that  might  spring  from  the 
coaling  business.  Because  we  value  our  trade  with 
England  and  wish  to  attract  British  capital,  he  knew 
we  would  not  interfere  with  him  unless  we  had  urgent 
grounds,  and  wished  to  learn  how  far  we  would  let 
him  go.  It  must  be  owned  that  in  this  country  official 
suspicion  can  often  be  disarmed." 

"  By  a  bribe  ?  I  don't  think  Kenwardine  is  rich," 
Dick  objected. 

"  Then  it  is  curious  that  he  is  able  to  spend  so  much 
at  Adexe." 

Dick  frowned,  for  he  saw  what  the  other  implied. 
If  Kenwardine  had  to  be  supplied  with  money,  where 
did  it  come  from?  It  was  not  his  business  to  defend 
the  man  and  he  must  do  what  he  could  to  protect  Brit- 
ish shipping,  but  Kenwardine  was  Clare's  father,  and 
he  was  not  going  to  expose  him  until  he  was  sure  of 
his  guilt. 

"  But  if  he  was  plotting  anything  that  would  get 
your  President  into  trouble,  he  must  have  known  he 
would  be  found  out." 

"  Certainly.  But  suppose  he  imagined  he  might  not 
be  found  out  until  he  had  done  what  he  came  to  do? 
It  would  not  matter  then." 

Dick  said  nothing.  He  knew  he  was  no  match  for 
the  Spaniard  in  subtlety,  but  he  would  not  be  forced 
into  helping  him.  He  set  his  lips,  and  Don  Sebastian 
watched  him  with  amusement. 

"  Well,"  said  the  latter,  "  you  have  my  sympathy. 
The  senorita's  eyes  are  bright." 

"  I  cannot  have  Miss  Kenwardine  mentioned,"  Dick 


THE  WATER-PIPE  263 

rejoined.     "  She  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  matter." 

"That  is  agreed,"  Don  Sebastian  answered,  and 
leaned  forward  as  he  added  in  a  meaning  tone :  "  You 
are  EngHsh  and  your  life  has  been  threatened  by  men 
who  plot  against  your  country.  I  might  urge  that 
they  may  try  again  and  I  could  protect  you;  but  you 
must  see  what  their  thmking  you  dangerous  means. 
Now  I  want  your  help." 

Dick's  face  was  very  resolute  as  he  looked  at  him. 
**  If  any  harm  comes  to  the  liner,  I'll  do  all  I  can. 
But  I'll  do  nothing  until  I  know.  In  the  meantime,  can 
you  warn  the  captain  ?  " 

Don  Sebastian  bowed.  "  I  must  be  satisfied  with 
your  promise.  We  may  find  the  key  to  the  telegram, 
and  must  try  to  get  into  communication  with  the 
steamer." 

They  went  down  stairs  together,  but  the  Spaniard 
did  not  leave  the  office  with  Dick,  who  went  out  alone 
and  found  Bethune  and  Jake  waiting  at  the  end  of 
the  line.  They  bantered  him  about  his  leaving  them 
on  board  the  ship,  but  although  he  thought  Jake  looked 
at  him  curiously,  he  told  them  nothing. 

When  work  stopped  on  the  Saturday  evening,  Jake 
and  Dick  went  to  dine  with  Bethune.  It  was  getting 
dark  when  they  reached  a  break  in  the  dam,  where  a 
gap  had  been  left  open  while  a  sluice  was  being  built. 
A  half-finished  tower  rose  on  the  other  side  and  a  rope 
ladder  hung  down  for  the  convenience  of  anybody  who 
wished  to  cross.  A  large  iron  pipe  that  carried  water 
to  a  turbine,  however,  spanned  the  chasm,  and  the 
sure-footed  peons  often  used  it  as  a  bridge.  This  re- 
quired some  agility  and  nerve,  but  it  saved  an  awk- 
ward scramble  across  the  sluice  and  up  the  concrete. 


264    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

"  There's  just  light  enough,"  Jake  remarked,  and 
balancing  himself  carefully,  walked  out  upon  the  pipe. 

Dick  followed  and  getting  across  safely,  stopped 
at  the  foot  of  the  tower  and  looked  down  at  the  rough 
blocks  and  unfinished  ironwork  in  the  bottom  of  the 
gap. 

"  The  men  have  been  told  to  use  the  ladder,  but  as 
they  seldom  do  so,  it  would  be  safer  to  run  a  wire 
across  for  a  hand-rail,"  he  said.  "  Anybody  who 
slipped  would  get  a  dangerous  fall." 

They  went  on  to  Bethune's  iron  shack,  where  Stuy- 
vesant  joined  them,  and  after  dinner  sat  outside,  talk- 
ing and  smoking.  A  carafe  of  Spanish  wine  and  some 
glasses  stood  on  a  table  close  by. 

"  I've  fired  Jose's  and  Pancho's  gangs ;  they've  been 
asking  for  it  for  some  time,"  Stuyvesant  remarked. 
"  In  fact,  I'd  clear  out  most  of  the  shovel  boys  if  I 
could  replace  them.  They've  been  saving  money  and 
are  getting  slack." 

The  others  agreed  that  it  might  be  advisable.  The 
half-breeds  from  the  hills,  attracted  by  good  wages, 
worked  well  when  first  engaged,  but  generally  found 
steady  labor  irksome  and  got  discontented  when  they 
had  earned  a  sum  that  would  enable  them  to  enjoy  a 
change. 

"  I  don't  think  you'd  get  boys  enough  in  this  neigh- 
borhood," Bethune  said. 

"  That's  so.  Anyhow,  I'd  rather  hire  a  less  sophis- 
ticated crowd ;  the  half-civilized  Meztiso  is  worse  than 
the  other  sort,  but  I  don't  see  why  we  shouldn't  look 
for  some  further  along  the  coast.  Do  you  feel  like 
taking  the  launch,  Brandon,  and  trying  what  you  can 
do?" 


THE  WATER-PIPE  265 

**  I'd  enjoy  the  trip,"  Dick  answered  with  some  hesi- 
tation. "  But  I'd  probably  have  to  go  beyond  Co- 
ronal, and  it  might  take  a  week." 

"  That  won't  matter ;  stay  as  long  as  it's  necessary," 
Stuyvesant  said,  for  he  had  noticed  a  slackness  in 
Dick's  movements  and  his  tired  look.  "  Things  are 
going  pretty  well  just  now,  and  you  have  stuck  close 
to  your  work.  The  change  will  brace  you  up.  Any- 
how, I  want  fresh  boys  and  Bethune's  needed  here, 
but  you  can  take  Jake  along  if  you  want  com- 
pany." 

Jake  declared  that  he  would  go,  but  Dick  agreed 
with  reluctance.  He  felt  jaded  and  depressed,  for  the 
double  strain  he  had  borne  was  beginning  to  tell.  His 
work,  carried  on  in  scorching  heat,  demanded  continu- 
ous effort,  and  when  it  stopped  at  night  he  had  private 
troubles  to  grapple  with.  Though  he  had  been  half- 
prepared  for  Clare's  refusal,  it  had  hit  him  hard,  and 
he  could  find  no  means  of  exposing  Kenwardine's 
plots  without  involving  her  in  his  ruin.  It  would  be  a 
relief  to  get  away,  but  he  might  be  needed  at  Santa 
Brigida. 

Bethune  began  to  talk  about  the  alterations  a  con- 
tractor wished  to  make,  and  by  and  by  there  was  a 
patter  of  feet  and  a  hum  of  voices  in  the  dark.  The 
voices  grew  louder  and  sounded  angry  as  the  steps 
approached  the  house,  and  Stuyvesant  pushed  back  his 
chair. 

"  It's  Jose's  or  Pancho's  breeds  come  to  claim  that 
their  time  is  wrong.  I  suppose  one  couldn't  expect 
that  kind  of  crowd  to  understand  figures,  but  although 
Frangois'  accounts  are  seldom  very  plain,  he's  not  a 
grafter." 


266    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

Then  a  native  servant  entered  hurriedly. 

"  They  all  come,  seiior,"  he  announced.  "  Pig  tief 
say  Fransoy  rob  him  and  he  go  casser  office  window." 
He  turned  and  waved  his  hand  threateningly  as  a  big^ 
man  in  ragged  white  clothes  came  into  the  light. 
*'  Fuera,  pucrco  ladron!" 

The  man  took  off  a  large  palm-leaf  hat  and  flour- 
ished it  with  ironical  courtesy. 

"  Here  is  gran  escandolo,  senores.  La  belle  chose, 
verdad!  Me  I  have  trent'  dollar;  the  grand  tief  me 
pay " 

Stuyvesant  signed  to  the  servant.  **  Take  them 
round  to  the  back  corral;  we  can't  have  them  on  the 
veranda."  Then  he  turned  to  Dick.  "  You  and 
Bethune  must  convince  them  that  the  time-sheets  are 
right;  you  know  more  about  the  thing  than  I  do. 
Haven't  you  been  helping  Frangois,  Fuller?" 

"  I'm  not  a  linguist,"  Jake  answered  with  a  grin. 
"  When  they  talk  French  and  Spanish  at  once  it  knocks 
me  right  off  my  height,  as  Frangois  sometimes  de- 
clares." 

They  all  went  round  to  the  back  of  the  house,  where 
Bethune  and  Dick  argued  with  the  men.  The  latter 
had  been  dismissed  and  while  ready  to  go  wanted  a 
grievance,  though  some  honestly  failed  to  understand 
the  deductions  from  their  wages.  They  had  drawn 
small  sums  in  advance,  taken  goods  out  of  store,  and 
laid  off  now  and  then  on  an  unusually  hot  day,  but 
the  amount  charged  against  them  was  larger  than  they 
thought.  For  all  that,  Bethune  using  patience  and 
firmness  pacified  them,  and  after  a  time  they  went 
away  satisfied  while  the  others  returned  to  the 
veranda. 


THE  WATER-PIPE  267 

"Arguing  in  languages  you  don't  know  well  is 
thirsty  work,  and  we'd  better  have  a  drink,"  Bethune 
remarked. 

He  pushed  the  carafe  across  the  table,  but  Dick 
picked  up  his  glass,  which  he  had  left  about  half  full. 
He  was  hot  and  it  was  a  light  Spanish  wine  that  one 
could  drink  freely,  but  when  he  had  tasted  it  he  emp- 
tied what  was  left  over  the  veranda  rails. 

Bethune  looked  surprised,  but  laughed.  "  The  wine 
isn't  very  good,  but  the  others  seem  able  to  stand  for 
it.  I  once  laid  out  a  mine  ditch  in  a  neighborhood 
where  you'd  have  wanted  some  courage  to  throw  away 
a  drink  the  boys  had  given  you." 

"  It  was  very  bad  manners,"  Dick  answered  awk- 
wardly.    "  Still,  I  didn't  like  the  taste " 

He  stopped,  noticing  that  Jake  gave  him  a  keen 
glance,  but  Stuyvesant  filled  his  glass  and  drank. 

"What's  the  matter  with  the  wine?  "  he  asked. 

Dick  hesitated.  He  wanted  to  let  the  matter  drop, 
but  he  had  treated  Bethune  rudely  and  saw  that  the 
others  were  curious. 

"  It  didn't  taste  as  it  did  when  I  left  it.  Of  course 
this  may  have  been  imagination." 

"But  you  don't  think  so?"  Stuyvesant  rejoined. 
"  In  fact,  you  suspect  the  wine  was  doped  after  we 
went  out?" 

"  No,"  said  Dick  with  a  puzzled  frown ;  "  I  imag- 
ine any  doping  stuff  would  make  it  sour.  The  curious 
thing  is  that  it  tasted  better  than  usual  but  stronger." 

Stuyvesant  picked  up  the  glass  and  smelt  it,  for  a 
little  of  the  liquor  remained  in  the  bottom. 

"  It's  a  pity  you  threw  it  out,  because  there's  a  scent 
mine  hasn't  got.     Like  bad  brandy  or  what  the  Span- 


268    BPIANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

iards  call  madre  de  vino  and  use  for  bringing  light 
wine  up  to  strength." 

Then  Bethune  took  the  glass  from  him  and  drained 
the  last  drops.  "  I  think  it  is  madre  de  vino.  Pretty 
heady  stuff  and  that  glass  would  hold  a  lot." 

Stuyvesant  nodded,  for  it  was  not  a  wineglass  but 
a  small  tumbler. 

"  Doping's  not  an  unusual  trick,  but  I  can't  see 
why  anybody  should  want  to  make  Brandon  drunk." 

"  It  isn't  very  plain  and  I  may  have  made  a  fuss 
about  nothing,"  Dick  replied,  and  began  to  talk  about 
something  else  with  Jake's  support. 

The  others  indulged  them,  and  after  a  time  the  party 
broke  up.  The  moon  had  risen  when  Dick  and  Jake 
walked  back  along  the  dam,  but  the  latter  stopped  when 
they  reached  the  gap. 

"  We'll  climb  down  and  cross  by  the  sluice  instead 
of  the  pipe,"  he  said. 

"Why?"  Dick  asked.  "The  light  is  better  than 
when  we  came." 

Jake  gave  him  a  curious  look.  "  Your  nerve's 
pretty  good,  but  do  you  want  to  defy  your  enemies 
and  show  them  you  have  found  out  their  trick?" 

"  But  I  haven't  found  it  out ;  that  is,  I  don't  know 
the  object  of  it  yet." 

**  Well,"  said  Jake  rather  grimly,  "  what  do  you 
think  would  happen  if  a  drunken  man  tried  to  walk 
along  that  pipe  ?  " 

Then  a  light  dawned  on  Dick  and  he  sat  down, 
feeling  limp.  He  was  abstemious,  and  a  large  dose  of 
strong  spirit  would,  no  doubt,  have  unsteadied  him. 
His  companions  would  notice  this,  but  with  the  obsti- 
nacy that  often  marks  a  half -drunk  man  he  would 


THE  WATER-PIPE  269 

probably  have  insisted  on  trying  to  cross  the  pipe. 
Then  a  slip  or  hesitation  would  have  precipitated  him 
upon  the  unfinished  ironwork  below,  and  since  an  ob- 
vious explanation  of  his  fall  had  been  supplied,  no- 
body's suspicions  would  have  been  aroused.  The 
subtlety  of  the  plot  was  unnerving.  Somebody  who 
knew  all  about  him  had  chosen  the  moment  well. 

"  It's  so  devilishly  clever !  "  he  said  with  hoarse 
anger  after  a  moment  or  two. 

Jake  nodded.  "  They're  smart.  They  knew  the 
boys  were  coming  to  make  a  row  and  Stuyvesant 
wouldn't  have  them  on  the  veranda.  Then  the  wine 
was  on  the  table,  and  anybody  who'd  noticed  where 
we  sat  could  tell  your  glass.  It  would  have  been  easy 
to  creep  up  to  the  shack  before  the  moon  rose." 

"Who  are  theyr' 

"  If  I  knew,  I  could  tell  you  what  to  do  about  it, 
but  I  don't.  It's  possible  there  was  only  one  man, 
but  if  so,  he's  dangerous.  Anyhow,  it's  obvious  that 
Kenwardine  has  no  part  in  the  matter." 

"  He's  not  in  this,"  Dick  agreed.  "  Have  you  a 
cigarette?  I  think  I'd  like  a  smoke.  It  doesn't  fol- 
low that  I'd  have  been  killed,  if  I  had  fallen." 

"  Then  you'd  certainly  have  got  hurt  enough  to 
keep  you  quiet  for  some  time,  which  would  probably 
satisfy  the  other  fellow.  But  I  don't  think  we'll  stop 
here  talking;  there  may  be  somebody  about." 

They  climbed  down  by  the  foot  of  the  tower  and 
crossing  the  sluice  went  up  the  ladder.  When  they 
reached  their  shack  Dick  sat  down  and  lighted  the 
cigarette  Jake  had  given  him,  but  he  said  nothing  and 
his  face  was  sternly  set.  Soon  afterwards  he  went  to 
bed. 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

THE   liner's   fate 

NEXT  morning  Dick  reviewed  the  situation  as  he 
ate  his  breakfast  in  the  fresh  coolness  before 
the  sun  got  up.  He  had  got  a  shock,  but  he  was  young 
and  soon  recovered.  His  anger  against  the  unknown 
plotter  remained  fierce,  but  this  was,  in  a  sense,  a 
private  grievance,  by  which  he  must  not  be  unduly 
influenced.  It  was  plain  that  he  was  thought  danger- 
ous, which  showed  that  he  was  following  the  right 
clue,  and  he  had  determined  that  the  raiding  of  ships 
belonging  to  Britain  or  her  allies  must  be  stopped. 
Since  he  had  gone  to  the  representative  of  British  au- 
thority and  had  been  rebuffed,  he  meant  to  get  Fuller 
to  see  if  American  suspicions  could  be  easier  aroused, 
but  he  must  first  make  sure  of  his  ground.  In  the 
meantime,  Don  Sebastian  had  asked  his  help  and  he 
had  given  a  conditional  promise. 

Dick  decided  that  he  had  taken  the  proper  course. 
Don  Sebastian  held  Kenwardine  accountable  and 
meant  to  expose  him.  This  was  painful  to  contem- 
plate for  Clare's  sake,  but  Dick  admitted  that  he  could 
not  shield  Kenwardine  at  his  country's  expense.  Still, 
the  matter  was  horribly  complicated.  If  Kenwardine 
was  ruined  or  imprisoned,  a  serious  obstacle  in  Dick's 
way  would  be  removed,  but  it  was  unthinkable  that 
this  should  be  allowed  to  count  when  Clare  must  suf- 

270 


THE  LINER'S  FATE  271 

fer.  Besides,  she  might  come  to  hate  him  if  she 
learned  that  he  was  responsible  for  her  father's 
troubles.  But  he  would  make  the  liner's  fate  a  test. 
If  the  vessel  arrived  safe,  Kenwardine  should  go  free 
until  his  guilt  was  certain;  if  she  were  sunk  or  chased, 
he  would  help  Don  Sebastian  in  every  way  he  could. 

For  three  or  four  days  he  heard  nothing  about  her, 
and  then,  one  hot  morning,  when  Stuyvesant  and 
Bethune  stood  at  the  foot  of  the  tower  by  the  sluice 
examining  some  plans,  Jake  crossed  the  pipe  with  a 
newspaper  in  his  hand. 

"  The  Diario  has  just  arrived,"  he  said.  "  I  haven't 
tried  to  read  it  yet,  but  the  liner  has  been  attacked." 

Dick,  who  was  superintending  the  building  of  the 
sluice,  hastily  scrambled  up  the  bank,  and  Stuyvesant, 
taking  the  newspaper,  sat  down  in  the  shade  of  the 
tower.  He  knew  more  Castilian  than  the  others,  who 
gathered  round  him  as  he  translated. 

The  liner,  the  account  stated,  had  the  coast  in  sight 
shortly  before  dark  and  was  steaming  along  it  when 
a  large,  black  funnel  steamer  appeared  from  behind 
a  point.  The  captain  at  once  swung  his  vessel  round 
and  the  stranger  fired  a  shot,  of  which  he  took  no 
notice.  It  was  blowing  fresh,  the  light  would  soon 
fade,  and  there  was  a  group  of  reefs,  which  he  knew 
well,  not  far  away.  The  raider  gained  a  little  during 
the  next  hour  and  fired  several  shots.  Two  of  the 
shells  burst  on  board,  killing  a  seaman  and  wounding 
some  passengers,  but  the  captain  held  on.  When  it 
was  getting  dark  the  reefs  lay  close  ahead,  with  the 
sea  breaking  heavily  on  their  outer  edge,  but  he  steamed 
boldly  for  an  intricate,  unmarked  channel  between 
them  and  the  land.     In  altering  his  course,  he  exposed 


272     BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

the  vessel's  broadside  to  the  enemy  and  a  shot  smashed 
the  pilot-house,  but  they  steered  her  in  with  the  hand- 
gear.  The  pursuer  then  sheered  off,  but  it  got  very 
dark  and  the  vessel  grounded  in  a  position  v^here  the 
reef  gave  some  shelter. 

Nothing  could  be  done  until  morning,  but  as  day 
broke  the  raider  reappeared  and  had  fired  a  shot  across 
the  reef  when  a  gunboat  belonging  to  the  state  in 
whose  territorial  waters  the  steamer  lay  came  upon  the 
scene.  She  steamed  towards  the  raider,  which  made 
off  at  full  speed.  Then  the  gunboat  took  the  liner's 
passengers  on  board,  and  it  was  hoped  that  the  vessel 
could  be  re-floated. 

"  A  clear  story,  told  by  a  French  or  Spanish  sailor 
who'd  taken  a  passage  on  the  ship,"  Bethune  remarked. 
"  It  certainly  didn't  come  from  one  of  the  British 
crew." 

"Why?"  Jake  asked. 

Bethune  smiled.  "  A  seaman  who  tells  the  truth 
about  anything  startling  that  happens  on  board  a  pas- 
senger boat  gets  fired.  The  convention  is  to  wrap  the 
thing  in  mystery,  if  it  can't  be  denied.  Besides,  the 
ability  to  take  what  you  might  call  a  quick,  bird's-eye 
view  isn't  a  British  gift;  an  Englishman  would  have 
concentrated  on  some  particular  point.  Anyhow,  I 
can't  see  how  the  boat  came  to  be  where  she  was  at 
the  time  mentioned."  He  turned  to  Dick  and  asked: 
"Do  you  know,  Brandon?" 

"  No,"  said  Dick,  shortly,  "  not  altogether." 

"  Well,"  resumed  Bethune,  "  I've  seen  the  anti- 
quated gunboat  that  came  to  the  rescue,  and  it's  amus- 
ing to  think  of  her  steaming  up  to  the  big  auxiliary 
cruiser.     It's  doubtful  if  they've  got  ammunition  that 


THE  LINER'S  FATE  273 

would  go  off  in  their  footy  little  guns,  though  I  ex- 
pect the  gang  of  half-breed  cut-throats  would  put  up 
a  good  fight.  They  have  pluck  enough,  and  the  coun- 
try they  belong  to  can  stand  upon  her  dignity." 

"  She  knows  where  to  look  for  support,"  Stuyves- 
ant  remarked.  "If  the  other  party  goes  much  farther, 
she'll  get  a  sharp  snub  up.  What's  your  idea  of  the 
situation  ?  " 

"  Something  like  yours.  We  can't  allow  the  black 
eagle  to  find  an  eyrie  in  this  part  of  the  world,  but 
just  now  our  Western  bird's  talons  are  blunt.  She 
hasn't  been  rending  the  innocents  like  the  other,  but 
one  or  two  of  our  former  leaders  are  anxious  to  put 
her  into  fighting  trim,  and  I  dare  say  something  of  the 
kind  will  be  done.  However,  Brandon  hasn't  taken 
much  part  in  this  conversation.  I  guess  he's  thinking 
about  his  work !  " 

Dick,  who  had  been  sitting  quiet  with  a  thoughtful 
face,  got  up. 

"  I'd  like  to  talk  to  you  for  a  few  minutes,  Stuy- 
vesant." 

"  Very  well,"  said  the  other,  who  turned  to  Bethune 
and  Jake.  "  I  don't  want  to  play  the  domineering 
boss,  but  we're  not  paid  to  sit  here  and  fix  up  inter- 
national politics." 

They  went  away  and  Stuyvesant  looked  at  Dick  who 
said,  "  I  ought  to  start  in  the  launch  to-morrow  to 
get  the  laborers  you  want,  but  I  can't  go." 

"Why?" 

Dick  hesitated.  "The  fact  is  I've  something  else 
to  do." 

"  Ah !  "  said  Stuyvesant.  "  I  think  the  understand- 
ing was  that  Fuller  bought  all  your  time." 


274     BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

"  He  did.     I'm  sorry,  but " 


"  But  if  I  insist  on  your  going  down  the  coast, 
you'll  break  your  agreement." 

"  Yes,"  said  Dick  with  embarrassment.  "  It  comes 
to  that." 

Stuyvesant  looked  hard  at  him.  "  You  must  recog- 
nize that  this  is  a  pretty  good  job,  and  you're  not  likely 
to  get  another  without  Fuller's  recommendation. 
Then  I  understand  you  were  up  against  it  badly  when 
he  first  got  hold  of  you.  You're  young  and  ought  to 
be  ambitious,  and  you  have  your  chance  to  make  your 
mark  right  here." 

"  It's  all  true,"  Dick  answered  doggedly.  "  Still,  I 
can't  go." 

"  Then  it  must  be  something  very  important  that 
makes  you  willing  to  throw  up  your  job." 

Dick  did  not  answer  and,  to  his  surprise,  Stuyvesant 
smiled  as  he  resumed :  "  It's  England  first,  with 
you?" 

"  How  did  you  guess  ?  How  much  do  you  know  ?  " 
Dick  asked  sharply. 

"  I  don't  know  very  much.  Your  throwing  out  the 
wine  gave  me  a  hint,  because  it  was  obvious  that  some- 
body had  been  getting  after  you  before,  and  there  were 
other  matters.  But  you're  rather  young  and  I  sus- 
pect you're  up  against  a  big  thing." 

"  I'm  afraid  I  can't  tell  you  about  it  yet,  if  that 
is  what  you  mean." 

"  Very  well.  Stay  here,  as  usual,  if  you  like,  or  if 
you  want  a  week  off,  take  it.  I'll  find  a  suitable  rea- 
son for  not  sending  you  in  the  launch." 

"  Thanks !  "  said  Dick,  with  keen  gratitude,  and 
Stuyvesant,  who  nodded  pleasantly,  went  away. 


THE  LINER'S  FATE  275 

Dick  sent  a  note  to  Don  Sebastian  by  a  messenger 
he  could  trust,  and  soon  after  dark  met  him,  as  he 
appointed,  at  a  wine-shop  on  the  outskirts  of  the  town, 
where  they  were  shown  into  a  small  back  room, 

"  I  imagine  you  are  now  satisfied,"  the  Spaniard 
said.  "  The  liner  has  been  chased  and  people  on  board 
her  have  been  killed." 

"  I'm  ready  to  do  anything  that  will  prevent  another 
raid.  To  some  extent,  perhaps,  I'm  responsible  for 
what  has  happened;  I  might  have  stopped  and  seen 
the  mate  or  captain,  but  then  I'd  have  lost  the  man  I 
was  after.  What  do  you  think  became  of  my 
note?" 

Don  Sebastian  looked  thoughtful.  "  The  boy  may 
have  lost  it  or  shown  it  to  his  comrades;  they  carry 
a  few  Spanish  stewards  for  the  sake  of  the  foreign 
passengers,  and  we  both  carelessly  took  too  much  for 
granted.  We  followed  the  spy  we  saw  without  re- 
flecting that  there  might  be  another  on  board.  How- 
ever, this  is  not  important  now." 

"  It  isn't.  But  what  do  you  mean  to  do  with  Ken- 
wardine?  " 

"You  have  no  cause  for  troubling  yourself  on  his 
account." 

"  That's  true,  in  a  way,"  Dick  answered,  coloring, 
though  his  tone  was  resolute.  "  He  once  did  me  a 
serious  injury,  but  I  don't  want  him  hurt.  I  mean 
to  stop  his  plotting  if  I  can,  but  I'm  going  no  further, 
whether  it's  my  duty  or  not." 

The  Spaniard  made  a  sign  of  comprehension. 
"  Then  we  need  not  quarrel  about  Kenwardine.  In 
fact,  the  President  does  not  want  to  arrest  him;  our 
policy  is  to  avoid  complications  and  it  would  satisfy 


276    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

us  if  he  could  be  forced  to  leave  the  country  and  give 
up  the  coaling  station." 

"How  will  you  force  him?" 

"  He  has  been  getting  letters  from  Kingston ;  ordi- 
nary, friendly  letters  from  a  gentleman  whose  busi- 
ness seems  to  be  coaling  ships.  For  all  that,  there  is 
more  in  them  than  meets  the  uninstructed  eye." 

"  Have  you  read  his  replies  ?  " 

Don  Sebastian  shrugged.  "  What  do  you  expect  ? 
They  do  not  tell  us  much,  but  it  looks  as  if  Senor  Ken- 
wardine  means  to  visit  Kingston  soon." 

"  But  it's  in  Jamaica ;  British  territory." 

"  Just  so,"  said  the  Spaniard,  smiling.  "  Seiior 
Kenwardine  is  a  bold  and  clever  man.  His  going  to 
Kingston  would  have  thrown  us  ofif  the  scent  if  we 
had  not  known  as  much  as  we  do;  but  it  would  have 
been  dangerous  had  he  tried  to  hide  it  and  we  had 
found  it  out.     You  see  how  luck  favors  us  ?  " 

"  What  is  your  plan  ?  " 

"  We  will  follow  Kenwardine.  He  will  be  more 
or  less  at  our  mercy  on  British  soil,  and,  if  it  seems 
needful,  there  is  a  charge  you  can  bring  against  him. 
He  stole  some  army  papers." 

Dick  started.     "How  did  you  hear  of  that?" 

"  Clever  men  are  sometimes  incautious,  and  he  once 
spoke  about  it  to  his  daughter,"  Don  Sebastian  an- 
swered with  a  shrug,  "  Our  antagonists  are  not  the 
only  people  who  have  capable  spies." 

The  intrigue  and  trickery  he  had  become  entangled 
in  inspired  Dick  with  disgust,  but  he  admitted  that  one 
could  not  be  fastidious  in  a  fight  with  a  man  like  his 
antagonist. 

"  Very  well,"  he  said,  frowning,  "  I'll  go ;  but  it 


THE  LINER'S  FATE  277 

must  be  understood  that  when  he's  beaten  you  won't 
decide  what's  to  be  done  with  the  man  without  con- 
sulting me." 

Don  Sebastian  bowed.  **  It  is  agreed.  One  can 
trust  you  to  do  nothing  that  would  injure  your  coun- 
try.    But  we  have  some  arrangements  to  make." 

Shortly  afterwards  Dick  left  the  wine-shop,  and 
returning  to  the  camp  went  to  see  Stuyvesant. 

"  I  want  to  go  away  in  a  few  days,  perhaps  for  a 
fortnight,  but  I'd  like  it  understood  that  I'd  been  sent 
down  the  coast  in  the  launch,"  he  said.  "  As  a  mat- 
ter of  fact,  I  mean  to  start  in  her." 

"  Certainly.  Arrange  the  thing  as  you  like,"  Stuy- 
vesant agreed.  Then  he  looked  at  Dick  with  a  twinkle. 
"  You  deserve  a  lay-off  and  I  hope  you'll  enjoy  it." 

Dick  thanked  him  and  went  back  to  his  shack,  where 
he  found  Jake  on  the  verandah. 

"  I  may  go  with  the  launch,  after  all,  but  not  to 
Coronal,"  he  remarked. 

"  Ah !  "  said  Jake,  with  some  dryness.  "  Then  you 
had  better  take  me;  anyhow,  I'm  coming." 

"  I'd  much  sooner  you  didn't." 

"  That  doesn't  count,"  Jake  replied.  "  You're  get- 
ting after  somebody,  and  if  you  leave  me  behind,  I'll 
give  the  plot  away.  It's  easy  to  send  a  rumor  round 
the  camp." 

Dick  reflected.  He  saw  that  Jake  meant  to  come 
and  knew  he  could  be  obstinate.  Besides,  the  lad  was 
something  of  a  seaman  and  would  be  useful  on  board 
the  launch,  because  Dick  did  not  mean  to  join  the 
steamer  Kenwardine  traveled  by,  but  to  catch  another 
at  a  port  some  distance  off. 

"  Well,"  he  said,  "  I  suppose  I  must  give  in." 


278    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

"  You've  got  to,"  Jake  rejoined,  and  added  in  a 
meaning  tone:  "You  may  need  a  witness  if  you're 
after  Kenwardine,  and  I  want  to  be  about  to  see  fair 
play." 

"  Then  you  trust  the  fellow  yet  ?  '* 

"  I  don't  know,"  Jake  answered  thoughtfully.  "  At 
first,  I  thought  Kenwardine  great,  and  I  like  him  now. 
He  certainly  has  charm  and  you  can't  believe  much 
against  him  when  he's  with  you;  but  it's  somehow  dif- 
ferent at  a  distance.  Still,  he  knew  nothing  about 
the  attacks  on  you.  I  saw  that  when  I  told  him  about 
them." 

"You  told  him!"  Dick  exclaimed. 

"  I  did.     Perhaps  it  might  have  been  wise " 

Jake  stopped,  for  he  heard  a  faint  rustle,  as  if  a 
bush  had  been  shaken,  and  Dick  looked  up.  The 
moon  had  not  yet  risen,  thin  mist  drifted  out  of  the 
jungle,  and  it  was  very  dark.  There  was  some  brush 
in  front  of  the  building  and  a  belt  of  tall  grass  and 
reeds  grew  farther  back.  Without  moving  the  upper 
part  of  his  body,  he  put  his  foot  under  the  table  at 
which  they  sat  and  kicked  Jake's  leg. 

"  What  was  that  about  Adexe  ?  "  he  asked  in  a  clear 
voice,  and  listened  hard. 

He  heard  nothing  then,  for  Jake  took  the  hint  and 
began  to  talk  about  the  coaling  station,  but  when  the 
lad  stopped  there  was  another  rustle,  very  faint  but 
nearer. 

Next  moment  a  pistol  shot  rang  out  and  a  puff  of 
acrid  smoke  drifted  into  the  veranda.  Then  the 
brushwood  crackled,  as  if  a  man  had  violently  plunged 
through  it,  and  Jake  sprang  to  his  feet. 


THE  LINER'S  FATE  279 

"  Come  on  and  bring  the  lamp ! "  he  shouted,  run- 
ning down  the  steps. 

Dick  followed,  but  left  the  lamp  alone.  He  did  not 
know  who  had  fired  the  shot  and  it  might  be  imprudent 
to  make  himself  conspicuous.  Jake,  who  was  a  few 
yards  in  front,  boldly  took  a  narrow  path  through  the 
brush,  which  rose  to  their  shoulders.  The  darkness 
was  thickened  by  the  mist,  but  after  a  moment  or  two 
they  heard  somebody  coming  to  meet  them.  It  could 
hardly  be  an  enemy,  because  the  man  wore  boots  and 
his  tread  was  quick  and  firm.  Dick  noted  this  with 
some  relief,  but  thought  it  wise  to  take  precautions. 

"  Hold  on,  Jake,"  he  said  and  raised  his  voice : 
"Who's  that?" 

"  Payne,"  answered  the  other,  and  they  waited  until 
he  came  up. 

"  Now,"  said  Jake  rather  sharply,  "  what  was  the 
shooting  about  ?  " 

"  There  was  a  breed  hanging  round  in  the  bushes 
and  when  he  tried  to  creep  up  to  the  veranda  I 
plugged  him." 

"  Then  where  is  he  ?  " 

"That's  what  I  don't  know,"  Payne  answered 
apologetically.  "  I  hit  him  sure,  but  it  looks  as  if  he'd 
got  away." 

"  It  looks  as  if  you'd  missed.  Where  did  you  shoot 
from?" 

Payne  beckoned  them  to  follow  and  presently 
stopped  beside  the  heap  of  ironwork  a  little  to  one 
side  of  the  shack.  The  lighted  veranda  was  in  full 
view  of  the  spot,  but  there  was  tall  brushwood  close 
by  and  behind  this  the  grass. 


28o    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

"  I  was  here,"  Payne  explained.  "  Heard  some- 
thing move  once  or  twice,  and  at  last  the  fellow  showed 
between  me  and  the  light.  When  I  saw  he  was  mak- 
ing for  the  veranda  I  put  up  my  gun.  Knew  I  had 
the  bead  on  him  when  I  pulled  her  off." 

"  Then  show  us  where  he  was." 

Payne  led  them  forward  until  they  reached  a  spot 
where  the  brush  was  broken  and  bent,  and  Jake,  stoop- 
ing down,  struck  a  match. 

"  I  guess  he's  right.  Look  at  this,"  he  said  with 
shrinking  in  his  voice. 

The  others  saw  a  red  stain  on  the  back  of  his  hand 
and  crimson  splashes  on  the  grass.  Then  Dick  took 
the  match  and  put  it  out. 

"  The  fellow  must  be  found.  I'll  get  two  or  three 
of  the  boys  I  think  we  can  trust  and  we'll  begin  the 
search  at  once." 

He  left  them  and  returned  presently  with  the  men 
and  two  lanterns,  but  before  they  set  off  he  asked 
Payne :  "  Could  you  hear  what  we  said  on  the  ve- 
randa ?  " 

"  No.  I  could  tell  you  were  talking,  but  that  was 
all.  Once  you  kind  of  raised  your  voice  and  I  guess 
the  fellow  in  front  heard  something,  for  it  was  then 
he  got  up  and  tried  to  crawl  close  in." 

"  Just  so,"  Dick  agreed  and  looked  at  Jake  as  one 
of  the  men  lighted  a  lantern.  "  He  was  nearer  us 
than  Payne.     I  thought  Adexe  would  draw  him." 

They  searched  the  belt  of  grass  and  the  edge  of  the 
jungle,  since,  as  there  were  venomous  snakes  about, 
it  did  not  seem  likely  that  the  fugitive  would  venture 
far  into  the  thick,  steamy  gloom.  Then  they  made  a 
circuit  of  the  camp,  stopping  wherever  a  mound  of 


THE  LINER'S  FATE  281 

rubbish  offered  a  hiding-place,  but  the  search  proved 
useless  until  they  reached  the  head  of  the  track.  Then 
an  explanation  of  the  man's  escape  was  supplied,  for 
the  hand-car,  which  had  stood  there  an  hour  ago,  had 
gone.  A  few  strokes  of  the  crank  would  start  it, 
after  which  it  would  run  down  the  incline. 

"  I  guess  that's  how  he  went,"  said  Payne. 

Dick  nodded.  The  car  would  travel  smoothly  if 
its  speed  was  controlled,  but  it  would  make  some  noise 
and  he  could  not  remember  having  heard  anything. 
The  peons,  however,  frequently  used  the  car  when  they 
visited  their  comrades  at  the  mixing  sheds,  and  he 
supposed  the  rattle  of  wheels  had  grown  so  familiar 
that  he  had  not  noticed  it. 

"  Send  the  boys  away ;  there's  nothing  more  to  be 
done,"  he  said. 

They  turned  back  towards  the  shack,  and  after  a 
few  minutes  Jake  remarked :  "  It  will  be  a  relief  when 
this  business  is  over.     My  nerves  are  getting  ragged." 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

THE   SILVER    CLASP 

IT  was  about  eleven  o'clock  on  a  hot  morning  and 
Kenwardine,  who  had  adopted  native  customs, 
was  leisurely  getting  his  breakfast  in  the  patio.  Two 
or  three  letters  lay  among  the  fruit  and  wine,  but  he 
did  not  mean  to  open  them  yet.  He  was  something 
of  a  sybarite  and  the  letters  might  blunt  his  enjoyment 
of  the  well-served  meal.  Clare,  who  had  not  eaten 
much,  sat  opposite,  watching  him.  His  pose  as  he 
leaned  back  with  a  wineglass  in  his  hand  was  neg- 
ligently graceful,  and  his  white  clothes,  drawn  in  at 
the  waist  by  a  black  silk  sash,  showed  his  well-knit 
figure.  There  were  touches  of  gray  in  his  hair  and 
wrinkles  round  his  eyes,  but  in  spite  of  this  he  had  a 
look  of  careless  youth.  Clare,  however,  thought  she 
noticed  a  hint  of  preoccupation  that  she  knew  and 
disliked. 

Presently  Kenwardine  picked  out  an  envelope  with 
a  British  stamp  from  among  the  rest  and  turned  it 
over  before  inserting  a  knife  behind  the  flap,  which 
yielded  easily,  as  if  the  gun  had  lost  its  strength. 
Then  he  took  out  the  letter  and  smiled  with  ironical 
amusement.  If  it  had  been  read  by  any  unauthorized 
person  before  it  reached  him,  the  reader  would  have 
been  much  misled,  but  it  told  him  what  he  wanted  to 

282 


THE  SILVER  CLASP  283 

know.  There  was  one  word  an  Englishman  or  Ameri- 
can would  not  have  used,  though  a  Teuton  might  have 
done  so,  but  Kenwardine  thought  a  Spaniard  would 
not  notice  this,  even  if  he  knew  English  well.  The 
other  letters  were  not  important,  and  he  glanced  at  his 
daughter. 

Clare  was  not  wearing  well.  She  had  lost  her  color 
and  got  thin.  The  climate  was  enervating,  and  Eng- 
lishwomen who  stayed  in  the  country  long  felt  it  more 
than  men,  but  this  did  not  quite  account  for  her  jaded 
look. 

"  I  am  afraid  you  are  feeling  the  hot  weather,  and 
perhaps  you  have  been  indoors  too  much,"  he  said. 
"  I  must  try  to  take  you  about  more  when  I  come 
back." 

"Then  you  are  going  away!     Where  to?" 

Kenwardine  would  have  preferred  to  hide  his  desti- 
nation, but  since  this  would  be  difii.ult  it  seemed  safer 
not  to  try  and  there  was  no  reason  why  his  household 
should  not  know. 

"  To  Jamaica.  I  have  some  business  in  Kingston, 
but  it  won't  keep  me  long." 

"  Can  you  take  me?  " 

"  I  think  not,"  said  Kenwardine,  who  knew  his  visit 
would  be  attended  by  some  risk,  "  For  one  thing,  I'll 
be  occupied  all  the  time,  and  as  I  must  get  back  as 
soon  as  possible,  may  have  to  travel  by  uncomfortable 
boats.     You  will  be  safe  with  Lucille." 

"  Oh,  yes,"  Clare  agreed  with  languid  resignation. 
"  Still,  I  would  have  liked  a  change." 

Kenwardine  showed  no  sign  of  yielding  and  she  said 
nothing  more.  She  had  chosen  to  live  with  him.  and 
although  she  had  not  known  all  that  the  choice  implied, 


284    BR.\NDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

must  obey  his  wishes.  For  all  that,  she  longed  to  get 
away.  It  had  cost  her  more  than  she  thought  to  re- 
fuse Dick,  and  she  felt  that  something  mysterious  and 
disturbing  was  going  on.  Kenwardine's  carelessness 
had  not  deceived  her;  she  had  watched  him  when  he 
was  off  his  guard  and  knew  that  he  was  anxious. 

"  You  don't  like  Santa  Brigida  ? "  he  suggested. 
*'  Well,  if  things  go  as  I  hope,  I  may  soon  be  able  to 
sell  out  my  business  interests  and  leave  the  country. 
Would  that  please  you?  " 

Clare's  eyes  sparkled  with  satisfaction.  Now  there 
was  a  prospect  of  its  ending,  she  could  allow  herself 
to  admit  how  repugnant  the  life  she  led  had  grown. 
She  had  hated  the  gambling,  and  although  this  had 
stopped,  the  mystery  and  hidden  intrigue  that  followed 
it  were  worse.  If  her  father  gave  it  all  up,  they  need 
no  longer  be  outcasts,  and  she  could  live  as  an  English 
girl  ought  to  do.  Besides,  it  would  be  easier  to  forget 
Dick  Brandon  when  she  went  away. 

"  Would  we  go  back  to  England  ? "  she  asked 
eagerly. 

"  I  hardly  think  that  would  be  possible,"  Kenwar- 
dine  replied.  "  We  might,  however,  fix  upon  one  of 
the  quieter  cities  near  the  Atlantic  coast  of  America. 
I  know  two  or  three  that  are  not  too  big  and  are 
rather  old-fashioned,  with  something  of  the  charm 
of  the  Colonial  days,  where  I  think  you  might  find 
friends  that  would  suit  your  fastidious  taste." 

Clare  tried  to  look  content.  Of  late,  she  had  longed 
for  the  peaceful,  well-ordered  life  of  the  English 
country  towns,  but  it  seemed  there  was  some  reason 
they  could  not  go  home. 

"Any  place  would  be  better  than  Santa  Brigida," 


THE  SILVER  CLASP  285 

she  said.  "  But  I  must  leave  you  to  your  letters.  I 
am  going  out  to  buy  some  things." 

The  sun  was  hot  when  she  left  the  patio,  but  there 
was  a  strip  of  shade  on  one  side  of  the  street  and  she 
kept  close  to  the  wall,  until  turning  a  corner,  she 
entered  a  blaze  of  light.  The  glare  from  the  pave- 
ment and  white  houses  was  dazzling  and  she  stopped 
awkwardly,  just  in  time  to  avoid  collision  with  a  man. 
He  stood  still  and  she  looked  down  as  she  saw  that 
it  was  Dick  and  noted  the  satisfaction  in  his  eyes. 

"  I'm  afraid  I  wasn't  keeping  a  very  good  lookout," 
he  said. 

"  You  seemed  to  be  in  a  hurry,"  Clare  rejoined,  half 
hoping  he  would  go  on;  but  as  he  did  not,  she  re- 
sumed :  "  However,  you  generally  give  one  the  im- 
pression of  having  something  important  to  do." 

Dick  laughed.  "  That's  wrong  just  now,  because 
I'm  killing  time.  I've  an  hour  to  wait  before  the 
launch  is  ready  to  go  to  sea." 

"  Then  you  are  sailing  somewhere  along  the  coast," 
said  Clare,  who  moved  forward,  and  Dick  taking 
her  permission  for  granted,  turned  and  walked  by  her 
side. 

"  Yes.  I  left  Jake  at  th^  mole,  putting  provisions 
on  board." 

"It  looks  as  if  you  would  be  away  some  time," 
Qare  remarked  carelessly. 

Dick  thought  she  was  not  interested  and  felt  relieved. 
It  had  been  announced  at  the  irrigation  camp  that  he 
was  going  to  Coronal  to  engage  workmen,  in  order 
that  the  report  might  reach  Kenwardine.  He  had  now 
an  opportunity  of  sending  the  latter  misleading  news, 
but  he  could  not  make  use  of  Clare  in  this  way. 


286     BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

"  I  expect  so,  but  can't  tell  yet  when  we  will  be 
back,"  he  said. 

"  Well,"  said  Clare,  "  I  shall  feel  that  I  am  left  alone. 
My  father  is  going  to  Kingston  and  doesn't  know  when 
he  will  return.     Then  you  and  Mr.  Fuller " 

She  stopped  with  a  touch  of  embarrassment,  won- 
dering whether  she  had  said  too  much,  but  Dick 
looked  at  her  gravely. 

"  Then  you  will  miss  us?  " 

"  Yes,"  she  admitted  with  a  blush.  "  I  suppose  I 
shall,  in  a  sense.  After  all,  I  really  know  nobody  in 
Santa  Brigida;  that  is,  nobody  I  like.  Of  course,  we 
haven't  seen  either  of  you  often,  but  then " 

"  You  liked  to  feel  we  were  within  call  if  we  were 
wanted?  Well,  I  wish  I  could  put  off  our  trip,  but 
I'm  afraid  it's  impossible  now," 

"  That  would  be  absurd,"  Clare  answered,  smiling, 
and  they  went  on  in  silence  for  the  next  few  minutes. 

She  felt  that  she  had  shown  her  feelings  with  raw 
candor,  and  the  worst  was  that  Dick  was  right. 
Though  he  thought  she  had  robbed  him,  and  was  some- 
how her  father's  enemy,  she  did  like  to  know  he  was 
near.  Then  there  had  been  something  curious  in  his 
tone  and  he  had  asked  her  nothing  about  her  father's 
voyage.  Indeed,  it  looked  as  if  he  meant  to  avoid 
the  subject,  although  politeness  demanded  some  re- 
mark. 

"I  am  going  shopping  at  the  Almacen  Morales," 
she  said  by  and  by,  giving  him  an  excuse  to  leave  her 
if  he  wished. 

"Then,  if  you  don't  mind,  I'll  come  too.  It  will 
be  out  of  this  blazing  sun,  and  there  are  a  few  things 
Jake  told  me  to  get." 


THE  SILVER  CLASP  287 

It  was  a  relief  to  enter  the  big,  cool,  general  store, 
but  when  Clare  went  to  the  dry-goods  counter  Dick 
turned  aside  to  make  his  purchases.  After  this,  he 
strolled  about,  examining  specimens  of  native  feather- 
work,  and  was  presently  seized  by  an  inspiration  as  he 
stopped  beside  some  Spanish  lace.  Clare  ought  to 
wear  fine  lace.  The  intricate,  gauzy  web  would 
harmonize  with  her  delicate  beauty,  but  the  trouble 
was  that  he  was  no  judge  of  the  material.  A  little 
farther  on,  a  case  of  silver  filigree  caught  his  eye  and 
he  turned  over  some  of  the  articles.  This  was  work 
he  knew  more  about,  and  it  was  almost  as  light  and 
fine  as  the  lace.  The  design  was  good  and  marked 
by  a  fantastic  Eastern  grace,  for  it  had  come  from 
the  Canaries  and  the  Moors  had  taught  the  Spaniards 
how  to  make  it  long  ago.  After  some  deliberation, 
Dick  chose  a  belt-clasp  in  a  box  by  itself,  and  the  girl 
who  had  been  waiting  on  him  called  a  clerk. 

"  You  have  a  good  eye,  senor,"  the  man  remarked. 
"  The  clasp  was  meant  for  a  sample  and  not  for  sale." 

"  Making  things  is  my  business  and  I  know  when 
they're  made  well,"  Dick  answered  modestly.  "  Any- 
how, I  want  the  clasp." 

The  clerk  said  they  would  let  him  have  it  because 
he  sometimes  bought  supplies  for  the  camp,  and  Dick 
put  the  case  in  his  pocket.  Then  he  waited  until  Clare 
was  ready  and  left  the  store  with  her.  He  had  bought 
the  clasp  on  an  impulse,  but  now  feared  that  she  might 
not  accept  his  gift.     After  a  time,  he  took  it  out. 

"  This  caught  my  eye  and  I  thought  you  might  wear 
it,"  he  said  with  diffidence. 

Clare  took  the  open  case,  for  at  first  the  beauty  of 
the  pattern  seized  her  attention.     Then  she  hesitated 


288    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

and   turned   to   him   with   some   color   in   her    face. 

"  It  is  very  pretty,  but  why  do  you  want  to  give 
it  to  me?" 

"  To  begin  with,  the  thing  has  an  airy  lightness  that 
ought  to  suit  you.  Then  you  took  care  of  me  and  we 
were  very  good  friends  when  I  was  ill,  I'd  like  to 
feel  I'd  given  you  something  that  might  remind  you 
of  this.     Besides,  you  see,  I'm  going  away " 

"  But  you  are  coming  back." 

"  Yes ;  but  things  might  happen  in  the  meantime." 

"What  kind  of  things?"  Clare  asked  in  vague 
alarm. 

"  I  don't  know,"  Dick  said  awkwardly.  "  Still,  dis- 
turbing things  do  happen.  Anyhow  won't  you  take 
the  clasp?  " 

Clare  stood  irresolute  with  the  case  in  her  hand.  It 
was  strange,  and  to  some  extent  embarrassing  that 
Dick  should  insist  upon  making  her  the  present.  He 
had  humiliated  her  and  it  was  impossible  that  she 
could  marry  him,  but  there  was  an  appeal  in  his  eyes 
that  was  hard  to  deny.  Besides,  the  clasp  was  beau- 
tiful and  he  had  shown  nice  taste  in  choosing  it  for 
her. 

"  Very  well,"  she  said  gently.  "  I  will  keep  it  and 
wear  it  now  and  then." 

Dick  made  a  sign  of  gratitude  and  they  went  on, 
but  Clare  stopped  at  the  next  corner  and  held  out  her 
hand. 

"  I  must  not  take  you  any  farther,"  she  said  firmly. 
"  I  wish  you  a  good  voyage." 

She  went  into  a  shop  and  Dick  turned  back  to  the 
harbor  where  he  boarded  the  launch.     The  boat  was 


THE  SILVER  CLASP  289 

loaded  deep  with  coal,  the  fireman  was  busy,  and  soon 
after  the  provisions  Dick  had  bought  arrived,  steam 
was  up.  He  took  the  helm,  the  engine  began  to  throb, 
and  they  glided  through  the  cool  shadow  along  the 
mole.  When  they  met  the  smooth  swell  at  the  harbor 
mouth  the  sea  blazed  with  reflected  light,  and  Dick 
was  glad  to  fix  his  eyes  upon  the  little  compass  in  the 
shade  of  the  awning  astern.  The  boat  lurched  away 
across  the  long  undulations,  with  the  foam  curling  up 
about  her  bow  and  rising  aft  in  a  white  following 
wave. 

"  I  thought  of  leaving  the  last  few  bags  of  coal," 
Jake  remarked.  "There's  not  much  life  in  her  and 
we  take  some  chances  of  being  washed  off  if  she  meets 
a  breaking  sea." 

"  It's  a  long  run  and  we'll  soon  burn  down  the  coal, 
particularly  as  we'll  have  to  drive  her  hard  to  catch 
the  Danish  boat,"  Dick  replied.  "  If  we  can  do  that, 
we'll  get  Kenwardine's  steamer  at  her  last  port  of  call. 
It's  lucky  she  isn't  going  direct  to  Kingston." 

"  You  have  cut  things  rather  fine,  but  I  suppose  you 
worked  it  out  from  the  sailing  lists.  The  worst  is 
that  following  the  coast  like  this  takes  us  off  our 
course." 

Dick  nodded.  After  making  some  calculations  with 
Don  Sebastian's  help,  he  had  found  it  would  be  pos- 
sible to  catch  a  small  Danish  steamer  that  would  take 
them  to  a  port  at  which  Kenwardine's  boat  would  ar- 
rive shortly  afterwards.  But  since  it  had  been  given 
out  that  he  was  going  to  Coronal,  he  must  keep  near 
the  coast  until  he  passed  Adexe.  This  was  necessary, 
because  Kenwardine  would  not  risk  a  visit  to  Jamaica, 


290    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

which  was  British  territory,  if  he  thought  he  was  being 
followed. 

"  We'll  make  it  all  right  if  the  weather  keeps  fine," 
he  answered. 

They  passed  Adexe  in  the  afternoon  and  boldly 
turned  seawards  across  a  wide  bay.  At  sunset  the 
coast  showed  faintly  in  the  distance,  obscured  by  the 
evening  mist,  and  the  land  breeze  began  to  blow.  It 
was  hot  and  filled  with  strange,  sour  and  spicy  smells, 
and  stirred  the  sea  into  short,  white  ripples  that  rapidly 
got  larger.  They  washed  across  the  boat's  half-im- 
mersed stern  and  now  and  then  splashed  on  board  at 
her  waist;  but  Dick  kept  the  engine  going  full  speed 
and  sat  at  the  tiller  with  his  eyes  fixed  upon  the  com- 
pass. It  was  not  easy  to  steer  by,  because  the  lurch- 
ing boat  was  short  and  the  card  span  in  erratic  jerks 
when  she  began  to  yaw  about,  swerving  off  her  course 
as  she  rose  with  the  seas. 

The  night  got  very  dark,  for  the  land-breeze  brought 
off  a  haze,  but  the  engine  lamp  and  glow  from  the 
furnace  door  threw  an  elusive  glimmer  about  the  craft. 
White  sea-crests  chased  and  caught  her  up,  and  roll- 
ing forward  broke  between  the  funnel  and  the  bows. 
Water  splashed  on  board,  the  engine  hissed  as  the  spray 
fell  on  it,  and  the  floorings  got  wet.  One  could  see 
the  foam  on  deck  wash  about  the  headledge  forward 
as  the  bows  went  up  with  a  sluggishness  that  was  the 
consequence  of  carrying  an  extra  load  of  coal. 

The  fireman  could  not  steer  by  compass,  and  after 
a  time  Jake  took  the  helm  from  his  tired  companion. 
Dick  lay  down  under  the  side  deck,  from  which 
showers  of  brine  poured  close  beside  his  head,  but  did 
not  go  to  sleep.     He  was  thinking  of  Clare  and  what 


THE  SILVER  CLASP  291 

he  must  do  when  he  met  her  father.  It  was  impor- 
tant that  they  should  catch  Kenwardine's  boat,  since 
he  must  not  be  allowed  to  land  and  finish  his  business 
before  they  arrived.  In  the  meanwhile,  he  listened 
to  the  measured  clank  of  the  engine,  which  quickened 
when  the  top  blade  of  the  screw  swung  out.  So  long 
as  she  did  not  lift  the  others  she  would  travel  well, 
but  by  and  by  he  heard  a  splash  in  the  crank-pit  and 
called  to  the  fireman,  who  started  the  pump. 

Day  broke  in  a  blaze  of  fiery  splendor,  and  the  drip- 
ping launch  dried.  The  coast  was  near,  the  sea  got 
smooth,  and  the  tired  men  were  glad  of  the  heat  of 
the  red  sun.  By  and  by  the  breeze  died  away,  and 
the  long  swell  heaved  in  a  glassy  calm,  glittering  with 
silver  and  vivid  blue.  When  their  clothes  were  dry 
they  loosed  and  spread  the  awning,  and  a  pungent 
smell  of  olive  oil  and  coffee  floated  about  the  boat  as 
the  fireman  cooked  breakfast.  After  they  had  eaten, 
Dick  moved  a  bag  or  two  of  coal  to  trim  the  craft  and 
sounded  the  tank,  because  a  high-pressure  engine  uses 
a  large  quantity  of  fresh  water.  Then  he  unrolled  a 
chart  and  measured  the  distance  to  their  port  while 
Jake  looked  over  his  shoulder. 

"  We  ought  to  be  in  time,"  he  said.  "  The  adver- 
tisement merely  stated  that  the  boat  would  sail  to-day, 
but  as  she  didn't  leave  the  last  port  until  yesterday 
and  she'd  have  some  cargo  to  ship,  it's  unlikely  that 
she'll  clear  before  noon." 

"  It  might  have  been  safer  to  telegraph,  booking 
two  berths.  These  little  boats  don't  often  miss  a 
chance  of  picking  up  a  few  dollars,  and  the  skipper 
would  have  waited." 

"  I  thought  about  that ;  but  the  telegram  would  have 


292    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

shown  what  we  were  after  if  Kenwardine  has  bribed 
somebody  in  the  office,  which  is  possible." 

"  You  seem  convinced  he  has  had  an  important  part 
in  these  attacks  on  merchant  ships,"  Jake  said  thought- 
fully. 

"  It's  hard  to  doubt." 

"  The  man's  by  way  of  being  a  friend  of  mine  and 
took  you  into  his  house  when  you  were  in  some  dan- 
ger of  bleeding  to  death.  I'm  not  sure  that  he's  guilty, 
and  now  I've  come  with  you,  am  going  to  see  he  gets 
fair  play ;  but  if  you  can  prove  your  charge,  you  may 
do  what  you  like  with  him.  I  think  we'll  let  it  go  at 
that." 

Dick  nodded.  "  In  the  first  place,  we  must  make 
our  port,  and  it's  lucky  we'll  have  smooth  water  until 
the  sea  breeze  gets  up." 

Telling  the  fireman  he  could  go  to  sleep,  he  moved 
about  the  engine  with  an  oilcan  and  afterwards  cleaned 
the  fire.  Then  he  lay  on  the  counter  with  his  hand 
on  the  helm  while  the  launch  sped  across  the  glassy 
sea,  leaving  a  long  wake  astern.  The  high  coast  ahead 
got  clearer,  but  after  a  time  dark-blue  lines  began  to 
streak  the  glistening  water  and  puffs  of  wind  fanned 
the  men's  faces.  The  puffs  were  gratefully  fresh  and 
the  heat  felt  intolerable  when  they  passed,  but  by  and 
by  they  settled  into  a  steady  draught  and  the  dark 
lines  joined,  until  the  sea  was  all  a  glowing  ultrama- 
rine. Then  small  ripples  splashed  about  the  launch 
and  Dick  glanced  ahead. 

"  She's  steaming  well,"  he  said  as  he  listened  to  the 
steady  snort  of  the  exhaust  and  humming  of  the 
cranks.  "  It's  lucky,  because  there's  some  weight  in 
the  wind." 


THE  SILVER  CLASP  293 

Some  hours  later,  when  the  sea  was  flecked  with 
white,  they  closed  with  a  strip  of  gray-green  forest  that 
seemed  to  run  out  into  the  water.  The  launch  rolled 
and  lurched  as  the  foam-tipped  combers  hove  her  up 
and  the  awning  flapped  savagely  in  the  whistling 
breeze.  Away  on  the  horizon,  there  was  a  dingy  trail 
of  smoke.  Presently  Jake  stood  up  on  deck,  and 
watched  the  masts  that  rose  above  the  fringe  of  trees. 

"  There's  a  black-top  funnel  like  the  Danish  boat's, 
and  a  flag  with  red  and  white  on  it,  but  it's  hanging 
limp.     They  don't  feel  the  breeze  inside." 

He  jumped  down  as  Dick  changed  his  course,  and 
they  passed  a  spit  of  surf-washed  sand,  rounded  the 
last  clump  of  trees,  and  opened  up  the  harbor  mouth. 
The  sunshine  fell  upon  a  glaring  white  and  yellow 
town,  and  oily  water  glittered  between  the  wharf  and 
the  dark  hulls  of  anchored  vessels,  but  Dick  suddenly 
set  his  lips.  He  knew  the  Danish  boat,  and  she  was 
not  there. 

"  She's  gone,"  said  Jake  with  a  hint  of  relief  in  his 
voice.     "  That  was  her  smoke  on  the  skyline." 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

ROUGH    WATER 

AS  soon  as  they  entered  port,  Dick  and  Jake  went 
to  the  office  of  a  Spanish  shipbroker,  who  of- 
fered them  his  polite  sympathy. 

"  We  had  very  Httle  cargo  here,  and  when  he  heard 
there  was  some  dyewood  at  San  Ignacio  the  captain 
steamed  off  again,"  he  explained. 

"  What  sort  of  a  port  is  San  Ignacio,  and  how  far 
is  it?"  Dick  asked. 

"  It  is  an  aldca  on  the  shore  of  a  lagoon,  with  a 
wharf  that  small  boats  can  reach,  about  forty  miles 
from  here." 

"Then  they  take  the  dyewood  off  in  boats?  If 
there  is  much  of  the  stuff,  it  would  be  a  long  job." 

"  That  is  so,  seilor.  The  boats  can  only  reach  the 
wharf  when  the  tide  is  high.  At  other  times,  the 
cargo  must  be  carried  down  through  the  mud." 

"  Have  you  a  large  chart  of  this  coast?  " 

The  broker  brought  a  chart  and  Dick  studied  it  for 
some  minutes,  making  notes  in  his  pocket-book.  Then 
he  looked  up. 

"Where  can  I  get  fresh  water?" 

The  broker  asked  how  much  he  wanted  and  after 
taking  some  paper  money  gave  him  a  ticket. 

"  There  is  a  pipe  on  the  wharf  and  when  the  peon 
sees  the  receipt  he  will  fill  your  tanks." 

Dick  thanked  him  and  going  out  with  Jake  found 
294 


ROUGH  WATER  295 

their  fireman  asleep  in  a  wine-shop.  They  had  some 
trouble  in  wakening  the  man  and  after  sending  him 
off  to  get  the  water,  ordered  some  wine.  The  room 
was  dirty  and  filled  with  flies,  but  the  lattice  shutters 
kept  out  the  heat  and  they  found  the  shadow  pleasant 
after  the  glare  outside.  Jake  dropped  into  a  cane 
chair  with  a  sigh  of  content.  He  felt  cramped  and 
stiff  after  the  long  journey  in  the  narrow  cockpit  of 
the  plunging  launch,  and  was  sensible  of  an  enjoyable 
lassitude.  It  would  be  delightful  to  lounge  about  in 
the  shade  after  refreshing  himself  with  two  or  three 
cool  drinks,  but  he  had  misgivings  that  this  was  not 
what  Dick  meant  to  do.  When  he  had  drained  a  large 
glass  of  light,  sweet  wine,  he  felt  peacefully  at  ease, 
and  resting  his  head  on  the  chair-back  closed  his  eyes. 
After  this  he  was  conscious  of  nothing  until  Dick  said : 
"  It's  not  worth  while  to  go  to  sleep." 

"  Not  worth  while?  "  Jake  grumbled  drowsily.  "  I 
was  awake  all  last  night.  It's  quiet  and  cool  here  and 
I  can't  stand  for  being  broiled  outside." 

"  I'm  afraid  you'll  have  to.  We  start  as  soon  as 
Maccario  has  filled  the  tank." 

Jake  roused  himself  with  a  jerk.  Dick  leaned  for- 
ward wearily  with  his  elbow  on  the  table,  but  he  looked 
resolute. 

"Then  you  haven't  let  up  yet?  You're  going  on 
to  the  lagoon?  " 

"  Certainly,"  said  Dick.  "  The  Danish  boat  has  an 
hour's  start,  but  she  only  steams  eight  or  nine  knots 
and  it  will  take  some  time  to  load  her  cargo." 

"  But  we  can't  drive  the  launch  hard.  The  breeze 
is  knocking  up  the  sea." 

"We'll  try,"  Dick  answered,  and  Jake  growled  in 


296    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

protest.  His  dream  of  rest  and  sleep,  and  perhaps 
some  mildly  exciting  adventure  when  the  citizens  came 
out  in  the  cool  of  the  evening,  had  been  rudely  ban- 
ished. Moreover,  he  had  had  another  reason  for  being 
philosophical  when  he  thought  his  comrade  baulked. 

"  It's  a  fool  trick.  She  won't  make  it  if  the  sea 
gets  bad." 

Dick  smiled  dryly.  "  We  can  turn  back  if  we  find 
her  getting  swamped.  It  looks  as  if  you  were  not 
very  anxious  to  overtake  Kenwardine." 

"  I'm  not,"  Jake  admitted.  "  If  you're  determined 
to  go,  I'm  coming,  but  I'd  be  glad  of  a  good  excuse 
for  letting  the  matter  drop." 

Somewhat  to  his  surprise,  Dick  gave  him  a  sym- 
pathetic nod.  "  I  know ;  I've  felt  like  that,  but  the 
thing  can't  be  dropped.  It's  a  hateful  job,  but  it  must 
be  finished  now." 

"  Very  well,"  Jake  answered,  getting  up.  '*  If  we 
must  go,  the  sooner  we  start  the  better." 

The  launch  looked  very  small  and  dirty  when  they 
looked  down  on  her  from  the  wharf,  and  Jake  noted 
how  the  surf  broke  upon  the  end  of  the  sheltering 
point.  Its  deep  throbbing  roar  warned  him  what  they 
might  expect  when  they  reached  open  water,  but  he 
went  down  the  steps  and  helped  Dick  to  tighten  some 
bearing  brasses,  after  which  a  peon  threw  down  their 
ropes  and  the  screw  began  to  rattle.  With  a  few 
puffs  of  steam  from  her  funnel  the  launch  moved 
away  and  presently  met  the  broken  swell  at  the  har- 
bor mouth.  Then  her  easy  motion  changed  to  a 
drunken  lurch  and  Jake  gazed  with  misgivings  at  the 
white-topped  seas  ahead. 


ROUGH  WATER  297 

She  went  through  the  first  comber's  crest  with  her 
forefoot  in  the  air  and  the  foam  washing  deep  along 
the  tilted  deck,  while  the  counter  vanished  in  a  white 
upheaval.  Then  it  swung  up  in  turn,  and  frames  and 
planking  shook  as  the  engine  ran  away.  This  hap- 
pened at  short  intervals  as  she  fought  her  way  to 
windward  in  erratic  jerks,  while  showers  of  spray  and 
cinders  blew  aft  into  the  face  of  her  crew. 

Dick  drove  her  out  until  the  sea  got  longer  and 
more  regular,  when  he  turned  and  followed  the  coast, 
but  the  flashing  blue  and  white  rollers  were  now  on 
her  beam  and  flung  her  to  lee  as  they  passed.  Some- 
times one  washed  across  her  low  counter,  and  some- 
times her  forward  half  was  buried  in  a  tumultuous 
rush  of  foam.  The  pump  was  soon  started  and  they 
kept  it  going,  but  the  water  gathered  in  the  crank-pit, 
where  it  was  churned  into  lather,  and  Jake  and  Mac- 
cario  relieved  each  other  at  helping  the  pump  with 
a  bucket.  They  were  drenched  and  half  blinded  by 
the  spray,  but  it  was  obvious  that  their  labor  was 
needed  and  they  persevered. 

Stopping  for  breath  now  and  then,  with  his  back 
to  the  wind,  Jake  glanced  at  the  coast  as  the  boat 
swung  up  with  a  sea.  It  made  a  hazy  blur  against 
the  brilliant  sky,  but  his  eyes  were  smarting  and  daz- 
zled. There  was  a  confusing  glitter  all  around  him, 
and  even  the  blue  hollows  they  plunged  into  were 
filled  with  a  luminous  glow.  Still  he  thought  they 
made  progress,  though  the  launch  was  drifting  to  lee- 
ward fast,  and  he  told  Dick,  who  headed  her  out  a 
point  or  two. 

"  This  is  not  the  usual  sea  breeze ;  it's  blowing  really 


298     BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

fresh,"  he  said.  "  Do  you  think  it  will  drop  at  sun- 
down? " 

"  I'm  not  sure,"  Dick  replied,  shading  his  eyes  as  he 
glanced  at  the  windward  horizon. 

"  Then  suppose  it  doesn't  drop?  " 

"If  the  sea  gets  dangerous,  we'll  put  the  helm  up 
and  run  for  shelter." 

"  Where  do  you  expect  to  find  it  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,"  Dick  admitted.  "  There  are  reefs 
and  shoals  along  the  coast  that  we  might  get  in  be- 
hind." 

Jake  laughed.  "  Well,  I  guess  this  is  a  pretty  rash 
adventure.  You  won't  turn  back  while  you  can  see, 
and  there  are  safer  things  than  running  for  a  shoal 
you  don't  know,  in  the  dark.  However,  there's  a 
point  one  might  get  a  bearing  from  abeam  and  I'll  try 
to  fix  our  position.     It  might  be  useful  later." 

Stooping  beside  the  compass,  he  gazed  at  the  hazy 
land  across  its  card,  and  then  crept  under  the  narrow 
foredeck  with  a  chart.  He  felt  the  bows  sweep  up- 
wards, pause  for  a  moment,  and  suddenly  lurch  down, 
but  now  the  sea  was  long  and  regular,  the  motion 
was  rhythmic.  Besides,  the  thud  and  gurgle  of  water 
outside  the  boat's  thin  planks  were  soothing  and  har- 
monized with  the  measured  beat  of  the  screw.  Jake 
got  drowsy  and  although  he  had  meant  to  take  an- 
otiier  bearing  when  he  thought  he  could  double  the 
angle,  presently  fell  asleep.  ^ 

It  was  getting  dark  when  he  awoke  and  crept  into 
the  cockpit.  There  was  a  change  in  the  motion,  for 
the  launch  did  not  roll  so  much  and  the  combers  no 
longer  broke  in  showers  of  spray  against  her  side. 
She  swung  up  with  a  swift  but  easy  lift,  the  foam 
boiling  high  about  her  rail,  and  then  gently  slid  down 


ROUGH  WATER  299 

into  the  trough.  It  was  plain  that  she  was  running 
before  the  wind,  but  Jake  felt  that  he  must  pull  him- 
self together  when  he  looked  aft,  for  there  is  some- 
thing strangely  daunting  in  a  big  following  sea.  A 
high,  white-topped  ridge  rolled  up  behind  the  craft, 
roaring  as  it  chased  her,  while  a  stream  of  spray  blew 
from  its  curling  crest.  It  hid  the  rollers  that  came 
behind;  there  was  nothing  to  be  seen  but  a  hill  of 
water,  and  Jake  found  it  a  relief  to  fix  his  eyes  ahead. 
The  backs  of  the  seas  were  smoother  and  less  dis- 
turbing to  watch  as  they  faded  into  the  gathering 
dark.  When  the  comber  passed,  he  turned  to  Dick, 
who  stood,  alert  and  highly  strung,  at  the  helm. 

"  You're  heading  for  the  land,"  he  said.  "  What 
are  you  steering  by  ?  " 

"  I  got  the  bearing  of  a  point  I  thought  I  recognized 
on  the  chart  before  I  lost  sight  of  the  coast.  There's 
a  long  reef  outshore  of  it,  with  a  break  near  the  point. 
If  we  can  get  through,  we  might  find  shelter." 

"  Suppose  there's  something  wrong  with  your  bear- 
ing, or  you  can't  make  good  your  course?  " 

"  Then  there'll  be  trouble,"  Dick  answered  grimly. 
"  We'll  have  the  reef  to  lee  and  she  won't  steam  out 
again." 

Jake  put  a  kettle  on  the  cylinder-top  and  took  some 
provisions  from  a  locker.  He  was  hungry  and 
thought  he  might  need  all  the  strength  he  had,  while 
he  did  not  want  to  look  at  the  sea.  The  pump  was 
clanking  hard,  but  he  could  hear  the  water  wash  about 
under  the  floorings,  and  the  launch  was  very  wet. 
Darkness  fell  as  he  prepared  a  meal  with  the  fireman's 
help,  and  they  ate  by  the  dim  light  of  the  engine-lamp, 
while  Dick,  to  whom  they  handed  portions,  crouched 
at  the  helm,  gazing  close  into  the  illuminated  com- 


300    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

pass.  Sometimes  he  missed  the  food  they  held  out 
and  it  dropped  and  was  washed  into  the  pump-well, 
but  he  ate  what  he  could  without  moving  his  eyes. 

Since  he  must  find  the  opening  in  the  reef,  much 
depended  on  his  steering  an  accurate  course,  but  this 
was  difficult,  because  he  had  to  bear  away  before  the 
largest  combers.  Moreover,  the  erratic  motion  of  a 
short  boat  in  broken  water  keeps  the  compass-card 
rocking  to  and  fro,  and  long  practise  is  needed  to  hit 
the  mean  of  its  oscillations.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  Dick 
knew  he  was  leaving  much  to  luck. 

After  a  time,  they  heard  a  hoarse  roar.  Since  the 
sound  would  not  carry  far  to  windward,  they  knew  the 
reef  was  close  ahead,  but  where  the  opening  lay  was 
another  matter.  Dick  had  no  guide  except  the  com- 
pass, and  as  the  launch  would  probably  swamp  if  he 
tried  to  bring  her  round  head  to  sea,  he  must  run  on 
and  take  the  risk.  By  and  by,  Jake,  straining  his  eyes 
to  pierce  the  gloom,  called  out  as  he  saw  a  ghostly 
white  glimmer  to  starboard.  This  was  the  surf  spout- 
ing on  the  reef  and  if  it  marked  the  edge  of  the  chan- 
nel, they  would  be  safe  in  going  to  port;  if  not,  the 
launch  would  very  shortly  be  hurled  upon  the  barrier. 

Dick  stood  up  and  gazed  ahead.  The  white  patch 
was  getting  plainer,  but  he  could  see  nothing  else. 
There  was,  however,  a  difference  in  the  motion,  and 
the  sea  was  confused.  He  ordered  the  engine  to  be 
slowed,  and  they  ran  on  until  the  belt  of  foam  bore 
abeam.  They  must  be  almost  upon  the  reef  now,  or 
else  in  the  channel,  and  for  the  next  minute  or  two 
nobody  spoke.  If  thty  had  missed  the  gap,  the  first 
warning  would  be  a  shock,  and  then  the  combers  that 
rolled  up  behind  them  would  destroy  the  stranded 
craft. 


ROUGH  WATER  301 

She  did  not  strike ;  the  surf  was  level  with  her  quar- 
ter, and  Jake,  thrusting  down  a  long  boathook,  found 
no  bottom.  In  another  minute  or  two  the  water  sud- 
denly got  smooth,  and  he  threw  down*  the  boathook. 

"We're  through,"  he  said  in  a  strained  voice. 
"  The  reef's  astern." 

"Try  the  hand-lead,"  Dick  ordered  him,  as  he 
changed  his  course,  since  he  was  apparently  heading 
for  the  beach. 

Jake  got  four  fathoms  and  soon  afterwards  eighteen 
feet,  when  Dick  stopped  the  engine  and  the  launch 
rolled  upon  the  broken  swell.  A  dark  streak  that 
looked  like  forest  indicated  the  land,  and  a  line  of  foam 
that  glimmered  with  phosphorescent  light  ran  out- 
shore  of  them.  Now  they  were  to  lee  of  the  reef, 
the  hoarse  clamor  of  the  surf  rang  about  the  boat. 
Unfolding  the  chart,  they  studied  it  by  the  engine- 
lamp.  It  was  on  too  small  a  scale  to  give  many  de- 
tails, but  they  saw  that  the  reef  ran  roughly  level  with 
the  coast  ^nd  ended  in  a  nest  of  shoals  near  a  point. 

"  We  could  ride  out  a  gale  here,"  Jake  remarked. 

"  We  could,  if  we  wanted,"  Dick  replied. 

Jake  looked  at  him  rather  hard  and  then  made  a 
sign  of  resignation.     "  Well,  I  guess  I've  had  enough, 

but  if   you're   going  on How  do   you   reckon 

you'll  get  through  the  shoals  ahead  ?  " 

"  I  imagine  some  of  them  are  mangrove  islands,  and 
if  so,  there'll  be  a  channel  of  a  sort  between  them.  In 
fact,  the  chart  the  broker  showed  me  indicated  some- 
thing of  the  kind.     With  good  luck  we  may  find  it." 

"  Very  well,"  said  Jake.  "  I'm  glad  to  think  it  will 
be  a  soft  bottom  if  we  run  aground." 

They  went  on,  keeping,  so  far  as  they  could  judge, 
midway  between  reef  and  beach,  but  after  a  time  the 


302    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

lead  showed  shoaling  water  and  Jake  used  the  boat- 
hook  instead.  Then  the  sky  cleared  and  a  half-moon 
came  out,  and  they  saw  haze  and  the  loom  of  trees 
outshore  of  them.  Slowing  the  engine,  they  moved 
on  cautiously  while  the  water  gradually  got  shallower, 
until  glistening  banks  of  mud  began  to  break  the  sur- 
face. Then  they  stopped  the  engine,  but  found  the 
launch  still  moved  forward. 

*'  I  imagine  it's  about  four  hours'  flood,"  Dick  re- 
marked. "  That  means  the  water  will  rise  for  some 
time  yet,  and  although  the  current's  with  us  now  I 
think  we  can't  be  far  off  the  meeting  of  the  tides." 

Jake  nodded.  In  places  of  the  kind,  the  stream 
often  runs  in  from  both  ends  until  it  joins  and  flows 
in  one  direction  from  the  shoalest  spot. 

"  Then  we  ought  to  find  a  channel  leading  out  on 
the  other  side." 

They  let  the  engine  run  for  a  few  minutes  until  the 
boat  touched  bottom  and  stuck  fast  in  the  mud.  The 
wind  seemed  to  be  falling  and  the  roar  of  the  surf 
had  got  fainter.  Thin  haze  dimmed  the  moonlight 
and  there  were  strange  splashings  in  the  water  that 
gently  lapped  about  the  belts  of  mud.  The  stream 
stopped  running,  but  seeing  no  passage  they  waited 
and  smoked. 

"If  we  can  get  out  on  the  other  side,  we  oughtn't 
to  be  very  far  from  the  lagoon,"  Jake  suggested. 

Presently  there  was  a  faint  rippling  against  the 
bows  and  the  launch  began  to  swing  round. 

"  The  tide's  coming  through  from  the  other  end," 
said  Dick.  "  We  may  find  a  channel  if  we  can  push 
her  across  the  mud." 

For  half  an  hour  they  laboriously  poled  her  with  a 
long  oar  and  the  boathook  between  the  banks  of  mire. 


ROUGH  WATER  303 

Sometimes  she  touched  and  stuck  until  the  rising  water 
floated  her  off,  and.  sometimes  she  scraped  along  the 
bottom,  but  still  made  progress.  They  were  breath- 
less and  soaked  with  perspiration,  while  the  foul  scum 
that  ran  off  the  oar  stained  their  damp  clothes.  Then 
Jake's  boathook  sank  a  foot  or  two  deeper  and  find- 
ing the  depth  as  good  after  a  few  vigorous  pushes, 
they  started  the  engine. 

Sour  exhalations  rose  from  the  wake  of  the  churn- 
ing screw  and  there  was  a  curious  dragging  feel  in 
the  boat's  motion,  as  if  she  were  pulling  a  body  of 
water  after  her,  but  this  was  less  marked  when  Jake 
found  three  or  four  feet,  and  by  and  by  he  threw 
down  the  pole  and  they  went  half -speed  ahead.  After 
a  time,  the  mangroves  outshore  got  farther  off,  the  air 
smelt  fresher,  and  small  ripples  broke  the  surface  of 
the  widening  channel.  They  went  full-speed,  the 
trees  faded,  and  a  swell  that  set  her  rocking  met  the 
boat,  although  there  still  seemed  to  be  a  barrier  of 
sand  or  mud  between  her  and  open  sea. 

Giving  Jake  the  helm,  Dick  crawled  under  the  fore- 
deck,  where  the  floorings  were  drier  than  anywhere 
else,  and  lay  smoking  and  thinking  until  day  broke. 
The  light,  which  grew  brighter  rapidly,  showed  a  glis- 
tening line  of  surf  to  seaward  and  mangrove  forest  on 
a  point  ahead.  Beyond  this  there  seemed  to  be  an 
inlet,  and  then  the  shore  curved  out  again.  As  they 
passed  the  point  Dick  stood  up  on  deck  and  presently 
saw  too  tall  spars  rise  above  the  mist.  A  few  minutes 
later,  the  top  of  a  funnel  appeared,  and  then  a  sharp 
metallic  rattle  rang  through  the  haze. 

"  We're  in  the  lagoon,"  he  said.  "  That's  the  Dan- 
ish boat  and  she  hasn't  finished  heaving  cargo  on 
board." 


CHAPTER  XXIX 

KENWARDINE   TAKES   A   RISK 

SHORTLY  after  the  launch  entered  the  lagoon, 
the  Danish  boat  hove  her  anchor  and  steamed 
out  to  sea.  Dick,  who  had  engaged  a  half-breed  pilot 
to  take  the  launch  home,  lounged  in  a  canvas  chair 
under  the  poop  awning.  His  eyes  were  half  closed, 
for  the  white  boats  and  deckhouses  flashed  dazzlingly 
in  the  strong  light  as  the  steamer  lurched  across  the 
vivid  swell  of  the  Caribbean.  The  cigarette  he  lan- 
guidly held  had  gone  out,  and  his  pose  was  slack. 

He  was  physically  tired  and  his  brain  was  dull,  but 
he  was  conscious  of  lethargic  satisfaction.  For  a  long 
time  he  had  been  torn  between  his  love  for  Clare  and 
his  duty  to  his  country.  His  difficulties  were  further 
complicated  by  doubts  of  Kenwardine's  guilt,  but  re- 
cent events  had  cleared  these  up.  It  was,  on  the 
whole,  a  relief  to  feel  that  he  must  now  go  forward 
and  there  need  be  no  more  hesitation  and  balancing 
of  probabilities.  The  time  for  that  had  gone  and  his 
course  was  plain.  He  must  confront  Kenwardine 
with  a  concise  statement  of  his  share  in  the  plot  and 
force  from  him  an  undertaking  that  he  would  abandon 
his  traitorous  work. 

This  might  be  difficult,  but  Dick  did  not  think  he 
would  fail.     Don  Sebastian,  who  perhaps  knew  more 

304 


KENWARDINE  TAKES  A  RISK      305 

than  he  did,  was  to  meet  him  at  a  Cuban  port,  and  the 
Spaniard  could  be  trusted  to  handle  the  matter  with 
skill.  There  was  no  direct  communication  between 
Santa  Brigida  and  Kingston,  but  steamers  touched  at 
the  latter  place  when  making  a  round  of  other  ports, 
which  would  enable  Dick  and  his  ally  to  join  Ken- 
wardine's  boat  at  her  last  call.  If  either  of  them  had 
gone  on  board  at  Santa  Brigida,  Kenwardine  would 
have  left  the  ship  at  the  next  port. 

Since  he  had  sailed  on  an  English  steamer,  bound 
for  British  territory,  he  would  be  subject  to  British 
law  when  they  met,  and  they  could,  if  needful,  have 
him  arrested.  Dick  admitted  that  this  ought  to  be 
done  to  begin  with,  but  had  not  decided  about  it  yet. 
He  would  wait  and  be  guided  by  events.  The  British 
officials  might  doubt  his  story  and  decline  to  interfere, 
but  Kenwardine  could  not  count  on  that,  because  Don 
Sebastian  was  armed  with  credentials  from  the  Presi- 
dent of  a  friendly  state. 

Dick,  however,  dismissed  the  matter.  He  was  tired 
in  mind  and  body,  and  did  not  mean  to  think  of  any- 
thing important  until  he  met  Kenwardine.  By  and 
by  his  head  grew  heavy,  and  resting  it  on  the  back 
of  his  chair,  he  closed  his  eyes.  When  Jake  came  up, 
followed  by  a  steward  carrying  two  tall  glasses  of 
frothing  liquor,  he  saw  that  his  comrade  was  fast 
asleep. 

"  You  can  put  them  down,"  he  told  the  steward. 
"  I'm  thirsty  enough  to  empty  both,  but  you  can  bring 
some  more  along  when  my  partner  wakes." 

After  this  he  took  a  black  seaman,  who  was  making 
some  noise  as  he  swept  the  poop,  by  the  arm  and  firmly 
led  him  to  the  other  side  of  the  deck.     Then  he  drained 


3o6     BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

the  glasses  with  a  sigh  of  satisfaction,  and  hghting 
a  cigarette,  sat  down  near  Dick's  feet.  He  did  not 
mean  to  sleep,  but  when  he  got  up  with  a  jerk  as  the 
lunch  bell  rang  he  saw  Dick  smiling. 

"  Have  I  been  sitting  there  all  this  time?  "  he  asked. 

"  No,"  said  Dick,  "  You  were  lying  fiat  on  deck 
when  I  woke  up  an  hour  ago."  Then  he  indicated  the 
two  glasses,  which  had  rolled  into  the  scupper  chan- 
nel. "  I  shouldn't  be  surprised  if  those  accounted  for 
it." 

"  Perhaps  they  did,"  Jake  owned,  grinning.  "  Any- 
how, we'll  have  some  more,  with  a  lump  of  ice  in  it, 
before  we  go  down  to  lunch." 

The  Danish  boat  met  fine  weather  as  she  leisurely 
made  her  way  across  the  Caribbean,  and  after  an  un- 
eventful voyage,  Dick  and  Jake  landed  at  a  port  in 
Cuba.  The  British  steamer  from  Santa  Brigida  had 
not  arrived,  but  the  agent  expected  her  in  the  evening, 
and  they  found  Don  Sebastian  waiting  them  at  a  hotel 
he  had  named.  When  it  was  getting  dark  they  walked 
to  the  end  of  the  harbor  mole  and  sat  down  to  watch 
for  the  vessel. 

Rows  of  the  lights  began  to  twinkle,  one  behind  the 
other,  at  the  head  of  the  bay,  and  music  drifted  across 
the  water.  A  bright  glow  marked  the  plaza,  where 
a  band  was  playing,  but  the  harbor  was  dark  except 
for  the  glimmer  of  anchor-lights  on  the  oily  swell. 
The  occasional  rattle  of  a  winch,  jarring  harshly  on 
the  music,  told  that  the  Danish  boat  was  working 
cargo.  A  faint,  warm  breeze  blew  off  the  land,  and 
there  was  a  flicker  of  green  and  blue  phosphorescence 
as  the  sea  washed  about  the  end  of  the  mole. 

"  I  wonder  how  you'll  feel  if  Kenwardine  doesn't 


KENWARDINE  TAKES  A  RISK      307 

come,"  Jake  said  presently,  looking  at  Dick,  who  did 
not  answer. 

"  He  will  come,"  Don  Sebastian  rejoined  with  quiet 
confidence. 

"  Well,  I  guess  he  must  know  he's  doing  a  danger- 
ous thing." 

"  Senor  Kenwardine  does  know,  but  he  plays  for 
high  stakes  and  takes  the  risks  of  the  game.  If  it 
had  not  been  necessary,  he  would  not  have  ventured 
on  British  soil,  but  since  he  was  forced  to  go,  he 
thought  the  boldest  plan  the  safest.  This  is  what  one 
would  expect,  because  the  man  is  brave.  He  could 
not  tell  how  far  my  suspicions  went  and  how  much 
Seiior  Brandon  knew,  but  saw  that  he  was  watched 
and  if  he  tried  to  hide  his  movements  he  would  be- 
tray himself.  It  was  wiser  to  act  as  if  he  had  nothing 
to  fear." 

"  As  he  was  forced  to  go,  his  business  must  be  im- 
portant," Dick  said  thoughtfully.  "  This  means  he 
must  be  dealt  with  before  he  lands  at  Kingston.  If 
we  allowed  him  to  meet  his  confederates  there,  the 
mischief  would  be  done,  and  it  might  be  too  late  after- 
wards to  stop  them  carrying  out  their  plans." 

Don  Sebastian  gave  him  a  quiet  smile.  "  One 
might  learn  who  his  confederates  are  if  he  met  them. 
It  looks  as  if  you  would  sooner  deal  with  our  friend 
on  board." 

"  I  would,"  Dick  said  steadily.  "  His  plotting  must 
be  stopped,  but  I'm  inclined  to  think  I'd  be  content  with 
that." 

"And  you?"  the  Spaniard  asked,  turning  to  Jake. 

"  I  don't  know  that  Kenwardine  is  in  the  worst  of 
the  plot.     He  was  a  friend  of  mine  and  it's  your  busi- 


3o8    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

ness  to  prove  him  guilty.  I  mean  to  reserve  my  opin- 
ion until  you  make  your  charges  good." 

"Very  well,"  said  Don  Sebastian.  "We'll  be 
guided  by  what  happens  when  we  see  him." 

They  let  the  matter  drop,  and  half  an  hour  later 
a  white  light  and  a  green  light  crept  out  of  the  dark 
to  seawards,  and  a  faint  throbbing  grew  into  the  meas- 
ured beat  of  a  steamer's  screw.  Then  a  low,  shadowy 
hull,  outlined  by  a  glimmer  of  phosphorescence,  came 
on  towards  the  harbor  mouth,  and  a  rocket  swept  up 
in  a  fiery  curve  and  burst,  dropping  colored  lights.  A 
harsh  rattle  of  running  chain  broke  out,  the  screw 
splashed  noisily  for  a  few  moments  and  stopped,  and 
a  launch  came  swiftly  down  the  harbor. 

"  The  port  doctor !  "  said  Dick,  "  There's  some 
cargo  ready,  and  she  won't  sail  for  three  or  four  hours. 
We  had  better  wait  until  near  the  last  moment  before 
we  go  on  board.  If  our  man  saw  us,  he'd  take  alarm 
and  land." 

Don  Sebastian  agreed,  and  they  went  back  to  the 
hotel,  and  stayed  there  until  word  was  sent  that  the 
last  boat  was  ready  to  leave  the  mole.  They  took 
their  places  with  one  or  two  more  passengers,  and  as 
they  drew  near  the  steamer  Dick  looked  carefully 
about.  Several  shore  boats  were  hanging  on  to  the 
warp  alongside  and  a  cargo  barge  lay  beside  her  quar- 
ter. It  was  obvious  that  she  would  not  sail  immedi- 
ately, and  if  Kenwardine  saw  them  come  on  board, 
he  would  have  no  trouble  in  leaving  the  vessel.  If 
he  landed,  he  would  be  in  neutral  territory,  and  their 
hold  on  him  would  be  gone.  To  make  things  worse, 
a  big  electric  lamp  had  been  hung  over  the  gangway 
so  as  to  light  the  ladder. 


KENWARDINE  TAKES  A  RISK      309 

Dick  could  not  see  Kenwardine  among  the  pas- 
sengers on  deck,  and  getting  on  board  as  quietly  as 
possible,  they  went  down  the  nearest  companion  stairs 
and  along  an  alleyway  to  the  purser's  office.  A  num- 
ber of  rooms  opened  on  to  the  passage,  and  Dick  had 
an  uncomfortable  feeling  that  chance  might  bring  him 
face  to  face  with  Kenwardine.  Nobody  met  them, 
however,  and  they  found  the  purser  disengaged. 

"  If  you  have  a  passenger  list  handy,  you  might 
let  me  see  it,"  Dick  said  as  he  took  the  tickets. 

The  purser  gave  him  a  list,  and  he  noted  Kenwar- 
dine's  name  near  the  bottom. 

"  We  may  as  well  be  comfortable,  although  we're 
not  going  far,"  he  resumed.  "  What  berths  have  you 
left?" 

"  You  can  pick  your  place,"  said  the  purser.  "  We 
haven't  many  passengers  this  trip,  and  there's  nobody 
on  the  starboard  alleyway.  However,  if  you  want  a 
hot  bath  in  the  morning,  you  had  better  sleep  to  port. 
They've  broken  a  pipe  on  the  other  side." 

A  bath  is  a  luxury  in  the  Caribbean,  but  white  men 
who  have  lived  any  time  in  the  tropics  prefer  it  warm, 
and  Dick  saw  why  the  passengers  had  chosen  the  port 
alleyway.  He  decided  to  take  the  other,  since  Ken- 
wardine would  then  be  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  ship. 

"  We'll  have  the  starboard  rooms,"  he  said.  "  One 
can  go  without  a  bath  for  once,  and  you'll  no  doubt 
reach  Kingston  to-morrow  night." 

"  I  expect  so,"  agreed  the  purser.  "  Still,  we 
mayn't  be  allowed  to  steam  in  until  the  next  morning. 
They're  taking  rather  troublesome  precautions  in  the 
British  ports  since  the  commerce-raider  got  to  work." 

Dick  signed  to  the  others  and  crossed  the  after  well 


310    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

towards  the  poop  in  a  curiously  grim  mood.  He  hated 
the  subterfuge  he  had  practised,  and  there  was  some- 
thing very  repugnant  in  this  steahhy  tracking  down 
of  his  man,  but  the  chase  was  nearly  over  and  he 
meant  to  finish  it.  Defenseless  merchant  seamen 
could  not  be  allowed  to  suffer  for  his  squeamishness. 

"  Don  Sebastian  and  I  will  wait  in  the  second-class 
smoking-room  until  she  starts,"  he  said  to  Jake.  "  I 
want  you  to  lounge  about  the  poop  deck  and  watch 
the  gangway.  Let  us  know  at  once  if  you  see  Ken- 
wardine  and  it  looks  as  if  he  means  to  go  ashore." 

He  disappeared  with  his  companion,  and  Jake  went 
up  a  ladder  and  sat  down  on  the  poop,  where  he  was 
some  distance  from  the  saloon  passengers.  Kenwar- 
dine  was  less  likely  to  be  alarmed  at  seeing  him,  but 
he  did  not  like  his  part.  The  man  had  welcomed 
him  to  his  house,  and  although  he  had  lost  some  money 
there,  Jake  did  not  believe  his  host  had  meant  to  plun- 
der him.  After  all,  Dick  and  Don  Sebastian  might 
be  mistaken,  and  he  felt  mean  as  he  watched  the  gang- 
way. A  hint  from  him  would  enable  Kenwardine  to 
escape,  and  it  was  galling  to  feel  that  it  must  not  be 
given.  Indeed,  as  time  went  on,  Jake  began  to  wish 
that  Kenwardine  would  learn  that  they  were  on  board 
and  take  alarm.  He  was  not  sure  he  would  warn 
Dick  if  the  fellow  tried  to  steal  away. 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  pumps  on  board  a  water-boat 
had  stopped  clanking  and  she  was  towed  towards  the 
harbor.  The  steamer's  winches  rattled  as  they  hove 
up  cargo  from  the  barge,  but  Jake  had  seen  that  there 
was  not  much  left  and  she  would  sail  as  soon  as  the 
last  load  was  hoisted  in.  Lighting  a  cigarette,  he  ran 
his  eye  along  the  saloon-deck.     A  few  passengers  in 


KENWARDINE  TAKES  A  RISK      311 

white  clothes  walked  up  and  down,  and  he  studied 
their  faces  as  they  passed  the  lights,  but  Kenwardine 
was  not  among  them.  A  group  leaned  upon  the  rails 
in  the  shadow  of  a  boat,  and  Jake  felt  angry  because 
he  could  not  see  them  well.  The  suspense  was  get- 
ting keen,  and  he  wished  Kenwardine  would  steal 
down  the  ladder  and  jump  into  a  boat  before  he  could 
give  the  alarm. 

There  was,  however,  no  suspicious  movement  on  the 
saloon-deck,  and  Jake,  walking  to  the  rail,  saw  the 
peons  putting  the  last  of  the  barge's  cargo  into  the 
sling.  It  came  up  with  a  rattle  of  chain,  and  the 
barge  sheered  off.  Somebody  gave  an  order,  and 
there  was  a  bustle  on  deck.  In  another  few  minutes 
Kenwardine's  last  chance  of  escape  would  be  gone, 
because  a  British  ship  is  British  territory,  and  her 
captain  can  enforce  his  country's  laws. 

Jake  threw  away  his  cigarette  and  took  out  another 
when  the  whistle  blew  and  the  windlass  began  to  clank. 
Although  the  anchor  was  coming  up,  two  boats  hung 
on  to  the  foot  of  the  ladder,  and  he  could  not  be  ex- 
pected to  see  what  was  going  on  while  he  lighted  his 
cigarette.  Kenwardine  was  clever,  and  might  have 
waited  until  the  last  moment  before  making  his  escape, 
with  the  object  of  leaving  his  pursuers  on  board,  but 
if  he  did  not  go  now  it  would  be  too  late.  The  clank 
of  the  windlass  stopped,  and  Jake,  dropping  the  match 
when  the  flame  touched  his  fingers,  looked  up.  A 
group  of  dark  figures  were  busy  on  the  forecastle,  and 
he  saw  the  captain  on  the  bridge. 

"  All  clear  forward,  sir !  "  a  hoarse  voice  cried,  and 
somebody  shouted :     "  Cast  off  the  boats !  " 

Then  there  was  a  rattle  of  blocks  as  the  ladder  was 


312    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

hoisted  in,  and  the  deck  quivered  as  the  engines  began 
to  throb.  Jake  heard  the  screw  slowly  flounder  round 
and  the  wash  beneath  the  poop  as  the  steamer  moved 
out  to  sea,  but  there  was  nobody  except  their  colored 
crews  on  board  the  boats  that  dropped  astern.  Ken- 
wardine  had  had  his  chance  and  lost  it.  He  had  been 
too  bold  and  now  must  confront  his  enemies. 

Jake  went  down  the  ladder  and  found  Dick  waiting 
at  the  door  of  the  second-class  saloon. 

"  He's  on  board,"  he  said.  "  I'm  sorry  he  is.  In 
fact,  I'm  not  sure  I'd  have  told  you  if  he'd  tried  to 
light  out  at  the  last  moment." 

Dick  gave  him  a  dry  smile.  "  I  suspect  that  Don 
Sebastian  didn't  trust  you  altogether.  He  left  me, 
and  I  shouldn't  be  surprised  to  learn  that  he  had  found 
a  place  where  he  could  watch  the  gangway  without 
being  seen." 

A  few  minutes  later,  the  Spaniard  crossed  the  after 
well.  "  Now,"  he  said,  "  we  must  decide  when  we 
ought  to  have  our  interview  with  Seiior  Kenwardine, 
and  I  think  we  should  put  it  off  until  just  before  we 
land." 

"  Why  ?  "  Jake  asked.  "  It  would  be  much  pleas- 
anter  to  get  it  over  and  have  done  with  it." 

"  I  think  not,"  Don  Sebastian  answered  quietly. 
"  We  do  not  know  how  Seiior  Kenwardine  will  meet 
the  situation.  He  is  a  bold  man,  and  it  is  possible 
that  he  will  defy  us." 

"  How  can  he  defy  you  when  he  knows  you  can 
hand  him  over  to  the  British  authorities?  " 

"  That  might  be  necessary ;  but  I  am  not  sure  it  is 
the  British  authorities  he  fears  the  most." 

"  Then  who  is  he  afraid  of  ?  " 


KENWARDINE  TAKES  A  RISK      313 

"  His  employers,  I  imagine,"  Don  Sebastian  an- 
swered with  a  curious  smile.  "  It  is  understood  that 
they  trust  nobody  and  are  not  very  gentle  to  those 
who  do  not  serve  them  well.  Senor  Kenwardine 
knows  enough  about  their  plans  to  be  dangerous,  and 
it  looks  as  if  he  might  fail  to  carry  their  orders  out. 
If  we  give  him  too  long  a  warning,  he  may  escape  us 
after  all." 

"  I  don't  see  how  he  could  escape.  You  have  him 
corralled  when  he's  under  the  British  flag." 

Don  Sebastian  shrugged  as  he  indicated  the 
steamer's  low  iron  rail  and  the  glimmer  of  foam  in 
the  dark  below. 

"  There  is  one  way !  If  he  takes  it,  we  shall  learn 
no  more  than  we  know  now." 

He  left  them,  and  Jake  looked  at  Dick.  "  It's  un- 
thinkable !     I  can't  stand  for  it !  " 

"  No,"  said  Dick  very  quietly ;  "  he  mustn't  be 
pushed  too  far.  For  all  that,  his  friends  can't  be  al- 
lowed to  go  on  sinking  British  ships." 


CHAPTER  XXX 

THE  LAST   ENCOUNTER 

DICK  awoke  next  morning  with  a  feeling  of 
nervous  strain  that  got  worse  as  the  day  wore 
on.  By  going  down  to  the  saloon  immediately  the 
breakfast-bell  rang  and  making  a  hurried  meal,  he 
and  his  companions  avoided  meeting  Kenwardine,  and, 
after  bribing  a  steward,  were  given  lunch  with  the 
second-class  passengers.  Two  difficulties  were  thus 
got  over,  but  the  time  passed  heavily  while  they  kept 
out  of  sight  in  quiet  corners  of  the  after  well,  and 
Dick  found  it  a  relief  when  a  friendly  engineer  invited 
him  below.  Here  he  spent  some  hours,  smoking  and 
watching  the  machinery,  while  the  fingers  of  the  clock 
on  the  bulkhead  crawled  with  painful  slowness  round 
the  dial. 

When  he  went  up  on  deck  the  bold  ridge  of  the 
Blue  Mountains  rose  above  the  dazzling  sea,  but  the 
lower  slopes  were  veiled  in  haze  and  he  could  not  tell 
how  far  the  land  was  off.  A  mate  informed  him  that 
they  would  have  the  coast  close  aboard  at  dusk,  but 
did  not  think  anybody  would  be  allowed  to  land  until 
the  morning.  Struck  by  a  thought,  Dick  asked  if  any 
passenger  boats  were  likely  to  be  in  port,  and  the  mate 
replied  that  a  Spanish  liner  would  leave  for  Brazil 
soon  after  they  arrived,  but  he  knew  of  no  vessel 
going  north  for  the  next  few  days.     Then,  after  giv- 

.314 


THE  LAST  ENCOUNTER  315 

ing  Dick  some  advice  about  the  choice  of  a  hotel,  he 
went  away. 

Towards  sunset  the  sea-breeze  dropped  and  the  mist 
gathered  thicker  about  the  hills.  Faint  puffs  of  hot 
wind  began  to  blow  off  the  land,  which  faded  suddenly 
as  darkness  rolled  down.  A  thin  haze  drifted  out 
across  the  water  and  the  speed  slackened  as  the  ves- 
sel closed  with  the  shore.  Then  dim  lights  blinked 
out  ahead,  the  engines  stopped,  and  a  detonating  rocket 
burst  high  up  in  the  sky.  Soon  afterwards  a  steam 
launch  came  off,  and  the  purser  stopped  near  Dick 
on  his  way  to  his  room. 

"  We  are  going  in,  but  will  have  to  wait  until  the 
agent  gets  formal  permission  from  the  guardship's 
commander,  who  must  see  our  papers  first,"  he  said. 
"  As  this  may  take  some  time,  perhaps  you  had  better 
dine  on  board." 

When  the  bell  rang  Dick  and  his  companions  went 
to  the  saloon.  There  were  not  many  passengers,  and 
the  room  was  nearly  empty,  but  as  they  entered  Dick 
saw  Kenwardine  at  the  bottom  of  a  table.  He  glanced 
up  as  he  heard  their  footsteps,  and  with  an  abrupt 
movement  turned  his  revolving  chair  partly  round. 
Next  moment,  however,  he  looked  at  Dick  coolly,  and 
after  a  nod  of  recognition  went  on  with  his  dinner. 
Don  Sebastian  indicated  a  table  between  Kenwardine 
and  the  door,  and  they  sat  down. 

Jake  played  with  his  food,  and  Dick  had  not  much 
appetite,  although  he  partook  of  the  dishes  set  before 
him,  because  he  wanted  an  excuse  for  occupying  the 
table  until  Kenwardine  had  finished.  The  latter 
showed  no  anxiety  to  get  away  and  now  and  then 
kept  the  steward  waiting  while  he  studied  the  menu. 


3i6    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

Dick,  who  envied  his  coolness,  thought  it  indicated 
one  of  two  things :  Kenwardine  knew  he  was  beaten 
and  was  philosophically  resigned,  or  had  some  plan 
by  which  he  hoped  to  baffle  his  pursuers.  Now  and 
then  Dick  looked  at  Don  Sebastian  inquiringly,  but 
the  Spaniard  answered  with  an  enigmatic  smile. 

In  the  meantime,  the  passengers  went  away  to  pack 
or  get  ready  for  a  run  ashore,  and  at  last  the  saloon 
was  empty  except  for  Dick's  party  and  Kenwardine. 
Then  Don  Sebastian  crossed  the  floor  and  bowed  to 
the  latter. 

"  It  would  be  a  favor  if  you  will  take  a  glass  of 
wine  with  us,"  he  said. 

"  Certainly,"  said  Kenwardine,  getting  up,  and  Don 
Sebastian,  who  gave  an  order  to  a  steward,  led  the 
way  to  a  corner  table  where  they  would  not  be  dis- 
turbed. 

"  You  were,  perhaps,  surprised  to  see  us,  sefior," 
he  resumed,  when  the  others  joined  them. 

"  I  was,"  Kenwardine  admitted.  "  Still,  I  suppose 
I  ought  to  have  been  prepared  for  something  of  the 
kind." 

Don  Sebastian  bowed.  "  One  may  understand  that 
as  a  compliment  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  it  is,  in  a  sense.  But  I  certainly  did  not 
expect  to  meet  Mr.  Fuller.  We  are  told  that  his  peo- 
ple mean  to  preserve  a  strict  neutrality." 

Jake  colored.  "  I'd  have  stood  out  if  you  had  kept 
your  dago  friends  off  my  partner.  That's  what 
brought  me  in;  hut  I'm  still  trying  to  be  as  neutral 
as  I  can." 

"  Sefior  Fuller  has  informed  us  that  he  means  to 
see  you  get  fair  play "  Don  Sebastian  interposed. 


THE  LAST  ENCOUNTER  317 

"Well,  he  has  my  thanks  for  that,  and  my  sym- 
pathy, which  I  think  he  needs,"  Kenwardine  rejoined 
with  a  twinkle.  "  There's  no  doubt  that  he  owes  Mr. 
Brandon  something,  and  I  flatter  myself  that  he  rather 
liked  me.  It  must  have  been  embarrassing  to  find 
that  he  couldn't  be  friends  with  both.  However,  you 
had  better  tell  me  what  you  want.  My  clothes  are 
not  packed,  and  I  must  land  as  soon  as  possible,  be- 
cause I  have  some  business  to  transact  to-night." 

"  I  am  afraid  you  will  be  unable  to  do  so,"  Don 
Sebastian  said  politely. 

"Why?" 

"  The  explanation  is  rather  long,  but,  to  begin  with, 
you  no  doubt  know  I  was  ordered  to  watch  you." 

"  I  must  admit  that  I  suspected  something  very  like 
it." 

"  The  President  imagined  you  might  become  dan- 
gerous to  the  neutrality  of  the  State,  and  I  learned 
enough  to  show  that  he  was  right." 

"What  did  you  learn?" 

Don  Sebastian  smiled.  "I  will  be  frank  and  put 
down  my  cards.  I  would  not  do  so,  sefior,  if  I  thought 
you  could  beat  them." 

He  began  a  concise  account  of  the  discoveries  he 
had  made ;  showing  Kenwardine's  association  with  the 
German,  Richter,  and  giving  particulars  about  the 
purchase  of  the  Adexe  coaling  wharf.  Jake  leaned 
forward  with  his  elbows  on  the  table,  listening  eagerly, 
while  Dick  sat  motionless.  Part  of  what  he  heard 
was  new  to  him,  but  the  Spaniard's  statements  could 
not  be  doubted,  and  he  envied  Kenwardine's  nerve. 
The  latter's  face  was,  for  the  most  part,  inscrutable, 
but  now  and  then  he  made  a  sign  of  languid  agree- 


3i8    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

ment,  as  if  to  admit  that  his  antagonist  had  scored  a 
point. 

"  Well/'  he  said  when  the  other  finished,  "  it  is  a 
story  that  might  do  me  harm,  and  there  are  parts  I 
cannot  deny;  but  it  is  not  complete.  One  finds  awk- 
ward breaks  in  it.  For  example,  you  do  not  show 
how  the  raider  got  coal  and  information  from  the 
Adexe  Company." 

"  I  think  Sefior  Brandon  can  do  so,"  said  Don  Se- 
bastian, who  turned  to  Dick. 

Taking  his  cue  from  the  Spaniard,  Dick  related 
what  he  had  noted  at  the  coaling  wharf  and  learned 
about  the  movements  of  the  tug  when  the  auxiliary 
cruiser  was  in  the  neighborhood.  His  account  to  some 
extent  filled  the  gaps  that  Don  Sebastian's  narrative 
had  left,  but  now  he  came  to  put  the  different  points 
together  and  consider  them  as  a  whole,  their  signifi- 
cance seemed  less.  He  began  to  see  how  a  hostile 
critic  would  look  at  the  thing.  Much  of  his  evidence 
was  based  upon  conjecture  that  might  be  denied.  Yet, 
while  it  was  not  convincing,  it  carried  weight. 

There  was  a  pause  when  he  finished,  and  Jake  was 
conscious  of  a  strong  revulsion  of  feeling  as  he  studied 
his  companions.  In  a  way,  the  thin,  dark- faced  Span- 
iard and  tranquil  Englishman  were  alike.  Both  wore 
the  stamp  of  breeding  and  were  generally  marked  by 
an  easy  good  humor  and  polished  wit  that  won  men's 
confidence  and  made  them  pleasant  companions.  But 
this  was  on  the  surface;  beneath  lay  a  character  as 
hard  and  cold  as  a  diamond.  They  were  cunning, 
unscrupulous  intriguers,  who  would  stick  at  nothing 
that  promised  to  serve  their  ends.  Jake  knew  Ken- 
wardine  now,  and  felt  angry  as  he  remembered  the  in- 


THE  LAST  ENCOUNTER  319 

fatuation  that  had  prevented  his  understanding  the 
man. 

Then  he  glanced  at  Dick,  who  sat  waiting  with  a 
quietly  resolute  look.  Dick  was  different  from  the 
others ;  he  rang  true.  One  could  not  doubt  his  rather 
naive  honesty,  but  in  spite  of  this  there  was  something 
about  him  that  made  him  a  match  for  his  scheming 
opponent.  Kenwardine,  of  course,  had  courage,  but 
Dick  was  armed  with  a  stem  tenacity  that  made  him 
careless  of  the  hurt  he  received.  Now,  though  he  had 
nothing  to  gain  and  much  to  lose,  he  would  hold  on 
because  duty  demanded  it.  The  contrast  between 
them  threw  a  lurid  light  upon  Kenwardine's  treach- 
ery. 

Then  the  latter  said :  "  You  have  stated  things 
clearly,  Brandon,  but,  after  all,  what  you  offer  is 
rather  plausible  argument  than  proof.  In  fact,  you 
must  see  that  your  evidence  isn't  strong  enough." 

"  It's  enough  to  justify  our  handing  you  to  the  mili- 
tary officers  in  Kingston,  who  would,  no  doubt,  de- 
tain you  while  they  made  inquiries." 

"  Which  you  don't  want  to  do  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  Dick  shortly.     "  But  I  may  be  forced." 

"Very  well.  This  brings  us  back  to  the  point  we 
started  from,"  Kenwardine  replied  and  turned  to  Don 
Sebastian.     "  What  is  it  you  want  ?  " 

"  To  know  where  Richter  is,  and  who  supplied  him 
with  the  money  he  paid  for  the  coaling  business." 

"Then  I'm  sorry  I  cannot  tell  you,  and  you  cer- 
tainly wouldn't  get  the  information  by  having  me 
locked  up,  but  perhaps  I  can  meet  you  in  another  way. 
Now  it's  obvious  that  you  know  enough  to  make  it 
awkward  for  me  to  carry  on  the  Adexe  wharf,  and 


320    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

my  help  is  necessary  for  the  part  of  the  business  you 
object  to.  If  I  retire  from  it  altogether,  you  ought 
to  be  satisfied." 

The  Spaniard  did  not  answer,  and  while  he  pon- 
dered, the  beat  of  a  launch's  engine  came  in  through 
the  open  ports.  Kenwardine  lighted  a  cigarette, 
spending  some  time  over  it,  and  as  he  finished  the 
launch  ran  alongside.  There  were  footsteps  on  deck, 
and  a  few  moments  later  a  steward  entered  the  saloon. 

"  We  are  going  in,"  he  announced.  "  Will  you 
have  your  luggage  put  on  deck  ?  " 

"  You  can  take  ours  up,"  said  Don  Sebastian,  who 
indicated  Kenwardine.  "  Leave  this  gentleman's  for 
the  present." 

Kenwardine  did  not  object,  but  Jake,  who  was 
watching  him,  thought  he  saw,  for  the  first  time,  a 
hint  of  uneasiness  in  his  look.  Then  Don  Sebastian 
got  up. 

"  I  must  think  over  Sefior  Kenwardine's  suggestion, 
and  you  may  want  to  talk  to  him,"  he  said,  and  went 
out. 

When  he  had  gone,  Kenwardine  turned  to  Dick. 
"  There's  a  matter  I  would  like  to  clear  up ;  I  had 
nothing  to  do  with  the  attempts  that  seem  to  have 
been  made  upon  your  life.  In  fact,  I  suspected  noth- 
ing of  the  kind  until  you  told  me  about  the  accident 
at  the  dam,  but  Fuller  afterwards  showed  me  that  it 
was  time  to  interfere." 

"  That's  true,"  said  Jake.  "  Anyhow,  I  gave  him 
a  plain  hint,  but  as  he  didn't  seem  able  to  stop  the 
accidents,  I  put  Don  Sebastian  on  the  track." 

"  You  can't  with  any  fairness  make  me  accountable 
for  the  actions  of  half-breeds  who  hold  life  very  cheap 


THE  LAST  ENCOUNTER  321 

and  meant  to  keep  a  paying  job,"  Kenwardine  re- 
sumed, addressing  Dick.  "  You  knew  what  kind  of 
men  you  had  to  deal  with  and  took  the  risk." 

"  It's  hard  to  see  how  a  white  man  could  make  use 
of  such  poisonous  colored  trash,"  Jake  remarked. 
"  But  I  expect  you  don't  want  me,  and  I'll  see  what 
Don  Sebastian  is  doing." 

He  left  them,  and  there  was  silence  for  a  few  mo- 
ments until  the  screw  began  to  throb  and  they  heard 
the  wash  of  water  along  the  steamer's  side.  Then 
Kenwardine  said  quietly,  "  Fuller  has  tact.  There's 
a  matter  that  concerns  us  both  that  has  not  been  men- 
tioned yet.  I'll  clear  the  ground  by  stating  that  al- 
though our  Spanish  friend  has  not  decided  what  he 
means  to  do,  I  shall  not  go  back  to  Santa  Brigida.  I 
imagine  this  will  remove  an  obstacle  from  your  way." 

"  Thanks  for  the  lead,"  Dick  answered.  "  I  re- 
solved, some  time  ago,  to  marry  Clare  if  she  would 
have  me,  though  I  saw  that  it  would  mean  separating 
her  from  you." 

"And  yet  you  believed  she  stole  your  papers!" 

"  I  thought  she  did,"  Dick  answered  doggedly. 
"  Still,  I  didn't  blame  her." 

"  You  blamed  me  ?  But  you  ought  to  be  satisfied, 
in  one  respect,  because  Clare  and  I  are  separated,  and 
I'll  own  that  I'm  anxious  about  her  future.  Had 
things  gone  well,  I  would  have  tried  to  keep  her  away 
from  you;  in  fact,  I  did  try,  because  I  frankly  think 
she  might  have  made  a  better  marriage.  For  all  that, 
if  you  are  determined  and  she  is  willing,  you  have  my 
consent.  You  will  probably  never  be  very  rich,  but  I 
could  trust  Clare  to  you." 

"  I  am  determined." 


322    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

"  Very  well.  I  can  tell  you  something  you  may 
be  glad  to  hear.     Clare  did  not  rob  you,  nor  did  I." 

Dick  looked  at  him  with  keen  relief.  "  Then  who 
took  the  plans?  " 

"Your  cousin.  The  pocket  they  were  in  was  un- 
buttoned when  he  took  hold  of  you  and  hurried  you 
out  of  the  house.  He  brought  them  to  me  afterwards, 
but  I  saw  they  were  not  valuable  and  destroyed  them," 

It  was  impossible  to  doubt  the  statement,  and  Dick 
flushed  with  shame  and  anger  as  he  realized  that  his 
absurd  and  unjust  suspicion  of  Clare  had  prevented 
his  seeing  who  the  real  culprit  was.  Clare  had  acci- 
dentally torn  his  pocket  loose,  the  bulky  envelope  must 
have  been  sticking  out,  and  Lance  had  noticed  it  as 
he  hustled  him  across  the  hall. 

"  Yes ;  Lance  took  the  plans ! "  he  exclaimed 
hoarsely.     "But  why?" 

"  It  looks  as  if  you  hadn't  heard  from  home. 
Your  cousin  has  stepped  into  your  place.  I  imagine 
he  had  always  envied  it,  and  didn't  hesitate  when  he 
saw  an  opportunity  of  getting  rid  of  you." 

Dick  was  silent  for  a  few  moments  and  his  face  was 
very  hard.  He  heard  the  crew  hurrying  about  the 
deck,  and  a  winch  rattle  as  the  hatches  were  lifted. 
The  vessel  would  soon  be  in  port,  and  Kenwardine's 
fate  must  be  decided  before  they  went  ashore;  but  the 
man  looked  very  cool  as  he  leaned  back  in  his  chair, 
languidly  waiting. 

"  Why  didn't  you  tell  me  this  earlier?  "  Dick  asked 
sternly. 

"  I  should  have  thought  my  object  was  plain 
enough,"  Kenwardine  replied.  "  I  didn't  want  Clare 
to  marry  a  badly  paid  engineer.     Things  are  different 


THE  LAST  ENCOUNTER  323 

now  and  I  admit  that  you  have  stood  a  rather  severe 
test.  I'll  give  you  two  letters;  one  to  Clare,  advising 
her  to  marry  you,  and  the  other  stating  how  your 
cousin  stole  the  plans,  which  you  can  use  in  any  way 
you  like.  Before  writing  them,  I'd  like  to  see  Fuller 
for  a  minute  or  two.  You  needn't  hesitate  about  it, 
because  I  don't  mean  to  victimize  him  in  any  way. 
In  fact,  I  want  to  tell  him  something  to  his  advantage." 

Dick  went  out,  and  when  he  had  sent  Jake  down, 
leaned  upon  the  steamer's  rail  lost  in  thought.  It  had 
been  a  shock  to  learn  of  his  cousin's  treachery,  but 
this  was  balanced  by  the  relief  of  knowing  that  Clare 
was  innocent.  Indeed,  he  grew  hot  with  shame  as 
he  wondered  how  he  had  suspected  her.  He  felt  angry 
with  Kenwardine  for  keeping  him  in  the  dark  so  long, 
but  his  indignation  was  tempered  by  a  touch  of  grim 
amusement.  Since  the  fellow  was  ambitious  for 
Clare,  he  must  have  regretted  having  destroyed  the 
plans  when  he  learned  that  Dick's  father  was  rich,  but 
after  conniving  at  the  theft  he  could  not  put  matters 
right.  Now,  when  his  career  was  ended,  he  was  will- 
ing, for  his  daughter's  sake,  to  clear  Dick's  name  and 
help  him  to  regain  the  station  he  had  lost.  But  Dick 
was  not  sure  he  wished  to  regain  it  just  yet.  He  had 
been  turned  out  of  the  army;  his  father,  who  had 
never  shown  much  love  for  him,  had  been  quick  to 
believe  the  worst;  and  he  was  bound  for  a  time  to  a 
man  who  had  befriended  him. 

Presently  he  looked  about.  Lights  were  opening 
out  in  twinkling  lines  as  the  steamer  moved  shore- 
ward, and  a  splash  of  oars  came  out  of  the  gloom. 
Dick  vacantly  noted  that  several  boats  were  approach- 
ing, and  then  a  winch  rattled  and  Don  Sebastian,  who 


324    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

had  come  up  quietly,  touched  his  arm.  A  chain  shng 
swung  past  beneath  a  moving  derrick,  and  as  they 
crossed  the  deck  to  get  out  of  the  way  he  saw  a  steamer 
close  by.  Her  windlass  was  clanking  as  she  shortened 
her  cable  and  he  supposed  she  was  the  Spanish  boat 
the  mate  had  spoken  of,  but  he  followed  his  com- 
panion and  listened  to  what  he  had  to  say.  Then  as 
the  anchor  was  let  go  he  thought  Jake  ought  to  have 
come  back  and  went  to  look  for  him.  He  found  the 
lad  leaning  against  the  deckhouse,  smoking  a  cigarette. 

"  Where's  Kenwardine  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  I  left  him  in  the  saloon.  He  gave  me  two  letters 
for  you  and  a  useful  hint  about  some  debts  of  mine." 

"  Never  mind  that !  How  long  is  it  since  you  left 
him?" 

"  Quite  five  minutes,"  Jake  answered  coolly. 

Struck  by  something  in  his  tone,  Dick  ran  below 
and  found  no  luggage  in  Kenwardine's  room.  None 
of  the  stewards  whom  he  asked  had  seen  him  for  some 
time,  and  a  hasty  search  showed  that  he  was  not  on 
deck.     Dick  went  back  to  Jake. 

"  Do  you  know  where  the  fellow  is  ? "  he  asked 
sharply  as  Don  Sebastian  came  up. 

"  If  you  insist,  I  imagine  he's  on  board  the  Spanish 
boat,"  Jake  answered  with  a  chuckle.  "  As  she  seems 
to  have  her  anchor  up,  I  guess  it's  too  late  for  us  to 
interfere." 

A  sharp  rattle  of  chain  that  had  rung  across  the 
water  suddenly  stopped  and  Dick  saw  one  of  the 
steamer's  colored  side-lights  slowly  move.  It  was 
plain  that  she  was  going  to  sea. 

"  Since  we  had  been  passed  by  the  doctor,  there  was 
nothing  to  prevent  the  shore  boats  coming  alongside, 


THE  LAST  ENCOUNTER  325 

and  I  believe  one  or  two  did  so  before  we  quite 
stopped,"  Jake  resumed.  "They  were,  no  doubt, 
looking  for  a  job,  and  the  ladder  was  already  lowered." 

"  Then  you  knew  Kenwardine  meant  to  steal 
away?" 

"I  didn't  know,  but  thought  it  likely,"  Jake  re- 
plied with  some  dryness.  "  On  the  whole,  it  was  per- 
haps the  best  thing  he  could  do.  What's  your  opin- 
ion, Don  Sebastian  ?  " 

The  Spaniard  smiled.  "  I  think  the  President  will 
be  satisfied  that  it  was  the  simplest  way  out  of  the  dif- 
ficulty." 

"  Well,"  said  Jake,  "  here  are  your  letters,  Dick. 
Perhaps  we  had  better  see  about  getting  ashore." 

They  moved  towards  the  gangway,  past  the  hatch 
where  some  heavy  cases  were  being  hoisted  up,  and 
Dick  carefully  put  the  letters  in  his  pocket.  This  dis- 
tracted his  attention  froiti  what  was  going  on,  and 
when  he  heard  a  warning  shout  he  stepped  back  a  mo- 
ment too  late.  A  big  case  swung  forward  beneath  a 
derrick-boom  and  struck  his  shoulder.  Staggering 
with  the  blow,  he  lost  his  balance  and  plunged  down 
the  hatch.  He  was  conscious  of  a  heavy  shock,  a 
sudden,  stinging  pain,  and  then  remembered  nothing 
more. 


CHAPTER  XXXI 
richter's  message 

IT  was  a  hot  evening  and  Clare  sat  at  a  table  in  the 
patio,  trying  to  read.  The  light  was  bad,  for 
buzzing  insects  hovered  about  the  lamp,  but  the  house 
had  not  cooled  down  yet  and  she  wanted  to  distract 
her  troubled  thoughts.  Footsteps  and  voices  rose 
from  the  street  outside,  where  the  citizens  were  passing 
on  their  way  to  the  plaza,  but  the  sounds  were  faint 
and  muffled  by  the  high  walls.  The  house  had  been 
built  in  times  when  women  were  jealously  guarded 
and  a  dwelling  was  something  of  a  fort.  Now,  with 
the  iron  gate  in  the  narrow,  arched  entrance  barred, 
the  girl  was  securely  cut  off  from  the  exotic  life  of 
the  city. 

This  isolation  was  sometimes  a  comfort,  but  it 
sometimes  jarred.  Clare  was  young,  and  fond  of 
cheerful  society,  and  the  iron  gate  had  its  counter- 
part in  another  barrier,  invisible  but  strong,  that  shut 
her  out  from  much  she  would  have  enjoyed.  She 
often  stood,  so  to  speak,  gazing  wistfully  between' 
the  bars  at  innocent  pleasures  in  which  she  could  not 
join.  Kenwardine,  in  spite  of  his  polished  manners, 
was  tactfully  avoided  by  English  and  Americans  of 
the  better  class,  and  their  wives  and  daughters  openly 
showed  their  disapproval. 

At  length  Clare  gave  up  the  attempt  to  read.  She 
326 


RICHTER'S  MESSAGE  327 

felt  lonely  and  depressed.  Nobody  had  been  to  the 
house  since  Kenwardine  left,  and  Dick  and  Jake  were 
away.  She  did  not  see  Dick  often  and  he  was,  of 
course,  nothing  to  her ;  for  one  thing,  he  was  in  some 
mysterious  way  her  father's  enemy.  Still,  she  missed 
him;  he  was  honest,  and  perhaps,  if  things  had  been 
different 

Then  she  turned  her  head  sharply  as  she  heard  the 
click  of  a  bolt.  This  was  strange,  because  Lucille 
had  locked  the  gate.  She  could  not  see  it  in  the  gloom 
of  the  arch,  but  it  had  certainly  opened.  Then  as  she 
waited  with  somewhat  excited  curiosity  a  dark  figure 
appeared  on  the  edge  of  the  light,  and  she  put  down 
her  book  as  Richter  came  forward.  He  made  very 
little  noise  and  stopped  near  the  table. 

"  How  did  you  get  in?  "  she  asked. 

Richter  smiled.  "  You  have  forgotten  that  Herr 
Kenwardine  gave  me  a  key." 

"  I  didn't  know  he  had,"  Clare  answered.  "  But 
won't  you  sit  down?" 

He  moved  a  chair  to  a  spot  where  his  white  clothes 
were  less  conspicuous,  though  Clare  noted  that  he  did 
so  carelessly  and  not  as  if  he  wished  to  hide  himself. 
Then  he  put  a  small  linen  bag  on  the  table. 

"  This  is  some  money  that  belongs  to  Herr  Kenwar- 
dine; you  may  find  it  useful.  It  is  not  good  to  be 
without  money  in  a  foreign  town." 

Clare  looked  at  him  with  alarm.  He  was  fat  and 
generally  placid,  but  his  philosophical  good  humor 
was  not  so  marked  as  usual. 

"  Then  you  have  heard  from  my  father?  " 

"  Yes.  I  have  a  cablegram.  It  was  sent  in  a 
roundabout  way  through  other  people's  hands  and 


328    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

took  some  time  to  reach  me.  Herr  Kenwardine  left 
Kingston  last  night." 

"  But  there  is  no  boat  yet." 

Richter  nodded.  "  He  is  not  coming  to  Santa 
Brigida.     I  do  not  think  that  he  will  come  back  at  all." 

For  a  moment  or  two  Clare  felt  unnerved,  but  she 
pulled  herself  together.  She  realized  now  that  she 
had  long  had  a  vague  fear  that  something  of  this  kind 
would  happen. 

"  Then  where  has  he  gone  ?  Why  didn't  he  write 
to  me?"  she  asked. 

"  He  has  gone  to  Brazil  and  will,  no  doubt,  write 
when  he  arrives.  In  the  meantime,  you  must  wait  and 
tell  people  he  is  away  on  business.  This  is  important. 
You  have  some  money,  and  the  house  is  yours  for  a 
month  or  two." 

"  But  why  has  he  gone  ?  Will  you  show  me  the 
cablegram  ?  " 

"  You  could  not  understand  it,  and  it  might  be  bet- 
ter that  you  should  not  know,"  Richter  answered. 
Then  he  paused  and  his  manner,  which  had  been 
friendly  and  sympathetic,  changed.  His  short  hair 
seemed  to  bristle  and  his  eyes  sparkled  under  his  shaggy 
brows  as  he  resumed :  "  Herr  Kenwardine  was  forced 
to  go  at  the  moment  he  was  needed  most.  Your 
father,  f raulein,  is  a  bold  and  clever  man,  but  he  was 
beaten  by  a  blundering  fool.  We  had  confidence  in 
him,  but  the  luck  was  with  his  enemies." 

"  Who  are  his  enemies  ?  " 

"  The  Englishman,  Brandon,  is  the  worst,"  Richter 
answered  with  keen  bitterness.  "  We  knew  he  was 
against  us,  but  thought  this  something  of  a  joke. 
Well,  it  seems  we  were  mistaken.     These  English  are 


RICHTER'S  MESSAGE  329 

obstinate;  often  without  imagination  or  forethought, 
they  blunder  on,  and  chance,  that  favors  simpletons, 
is  sometimes  with  them.  But  remember,  that  if  your 
father  meets  with  misfortunes,  you  have  Brandon  to 
thank." 

The  color  left  Clare's  face,  but  she  tried  to  brace 
herself. 

"  What  misfortunes  has  my  father  to  fear?  " 

Richter  hesitated,  and  then  said  deprecatingly :  "  I 
cannot  be  as  frank  as  I  wish.  Herr  Kenwardine's 
work  was  most  important,  but  he  failed  in  it.  I  know 
this  was  not  his  fault  and  would  trust  him  again,  but 
there  are  others,  of  higher  rank,  who  may  take  a  dif- 
ferent view.  Besides,  it  will  be  remembered  that  he 
is  an  Englishman.  If  he  stays  in  Brazil,  I  think  he 
will  be  left  alone,  but  he  will  get  no  money  and  some 
he  has  earned  will  not  be  sent.  Indeed,  if  it  were 
known,  fraulein,  I  might  be  blamed  for  paying  you 
this  small  sum,  but  I  expect  you  will  need  it." 

He  got  up,  as  if  to  go,  but  Clare  stopped  him. 

"  You  will  come  back  as  soon  as  you  know  some- 
thing more  and  tell  me  what  to  do." 

Richter  made  an  apologetic  gesture.  "  That  will 
be  impossible.  I  ran  some  risk  in  coming  now  and 
leave  Santa  Brigida  to-night  in  a  fishing  boat.  You 
will  stay  in  this  house,  as  if  you  expect  your  father 
back,  until  you  hear  from  him.  He  will  send  you  in- 
structions when  he  lands." 

Then  the  kitchen  door  across  the  patio  opened  and 
a  bucket  clinked.  Richter  stepped  back  into  the 
shadow  and  Clare  looked  round  as  an  indistinct  figure 
crossed  the  tiles.     When  she  looked  back  Richter  had 


330    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

gone  and  she  heard  the  splash  of  water.  She  sat  still 
until  the  servant  went  away  and  then  sank  down 
limply  in  her  chair.  She  was  left  alone  and  unpro- 
tected except  for  old  Lucille,  in  a  foreign  town  where 
morals  were  lax  and  license  was  the  rule.  The  few 
English  and  Americans  whose  help  she  might  have 
asked  regarded  her  with  suspicion,  and  it  looked  as 
if  her  father  would  be  unable  to  send  for  her. 

This  was  daunting  but  it  was  not  the  worst.  Rich- 
ter  had  vaguely  hinted  at  Kenwardine's  business,  which 
was  obviously  mysterious.  She  saw  where  his  hints 
led,  but  she  would  not  follow  up  the  clue.  Her  father 
had  been  ruined  by  Brandon,  and  her  heart  was  filled 
with  anger,  in  which  she  found  it  some  relief  to  in- 
dulge. Dick  had  long  been  their  enemy  and  thought 
her  a  thief,  while  the  possibility  that  he  was  justified 
in  the  line  he  had  taken  made  matters  worse.  If  she 
was  the  daughter  of  a  man  dishonored  by  some  trea- 
son against  his  country,  she  could  not  marry  Dick. 
She  had  already  refused  to  do  so,  but  she  did  not 
want  to  be  logical.  It  was  simpler  to  hate  him  as  the 
cause  of  her  father's  downfall.  The  latter  had  al- 
ways indulged  her,  and  now  she  understood  that  he 
would  land  in  Brazil  penniless,  or  at  least  impover- 
ished. Since  he  was  accustomed  to  extravagance,  it 
was  painful  to  think  of  what  he  might  suffer. 

Then  she  began  to  speculate  about  Richter's  visit. 
He  had  come  at  some  risk  and  seemed  sorry  for  her, 
but  he  had  urged  her  to  stay  in  the  house,  as  if  she 
expected  her  father  to  return.  This  could  be  of  no 
advantage  to  the  latter,  and  she  wondered  whether 
the  man  had  meant  to  make  use  of  her  to  divert  sus- 


RICHTER'S  MESSAGE  331 

picion  from  himself  and  his  friends.  It  seemed  un- 
charitable to  think  so,  but  she  was  very  bitter  and 
could  trust  nobody. 

After  a  time  she  got  calm,  and  remembering  that 
she  had  her  own  situation  to  consider,  counted  the 
money  in  the  bag.  It  was  not  a  large  sum,  but  with 
economy  might  last  for  a  few  weeks,  after  which  she 
must  make  some  plans.  She  was  incapable  of  grap- 
pling with  any  fresh  difficulty  yet,  but  she  must  brace 
her  courage  and  not  break  down,  and  getting  up  with 
a  resolute  movement  she  went  into  the  house. 

On  the  morning  after  his  fall,  Dick  came  to  his 
senses  in  a  shaded  room.  He  heard  a  shutter  rattle 
as  the  warm  breeze  flowed  in,  and  noted  a  flickering 
patch  of  light  on  the  wall,  but  found  with  some  an- 
noyance that  he  could  not  see  it  well.  His  head  was 
throbbing  and  a  bandage  covered  part  of  his  face. 
His  side  was  painful  too,  and  he  groaned  when  he 
tried  to  move. 

"  Where  am  I  ?  "  he  asked  a  strange  man,  who  ap- 
peared beside  his  bed,  and  added  in  an  injured  tone: 
"  It  looks  as  if  I'd  got  into  trouble  again." 

"  You  had  a  narrow  escape,"  the  other  answered 
soothingly.  "  You  cut  your  head  badly  and  broke 
two  of  your  ribs  when  you  fell  down  the  steamer's 
hold.     Now  you're  in  hospital,  but  you're  not  to  talk." 

"  I'll  get  worse  if  you  keep  me  quiet,"  Dick  grum- 
bled. "  How  can  you  find  out  things  that  bother  you, 
unless  you  talk?" 

"  Don't  bother  about  them,"  said  the  doctor. 
"  Have  a  drink  instead." 

Dick  looked  at  the  glass  with  dull  suspicion.  "  I 
don't  know,  though  I'm  thirsty.     You  see,  I've  been 


332    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

in  a  doctor's  hands  before.  In  fact,  I  seem  to  have 
a  gift  for  getting  hurt." 

"  It's  cool  and  tastes  nice,"  the  other  urged.  "  You 
didn't  rest  much  last  night  and  if  you  go  to  sleep  now 
we'll  try  to  satisfy  your  curiosity  afterwards." 

Dick  hesitated,  but  took  the  glass  and  went  to  sleep 
soon  after  he  drained  it.  When  he  awoke  the  light 
had  vanished  from  the  wall  and  the  room  was  shadowy, 
but  he  saw  Jake  sitting  by  the  bed.  A  nurse,  who 
put  a  thermometer  in  his  mouth  and  felt  his  pulse, 
nodded  to  the  lad  as  if  satisfied  before  she  went  away. 
Dick's  head  was  clearer,  and  although  the  movement 
hurt  him  he  resolutely  fixed  his  uncovered  eye  on  his 
companion. 

"  Now,"  he  said,  "  don't  tell  me  not  to  talk.  Do 
you  know  why  they've  fixed  this  bandage  so  that  it 
half  blinds  me?" 

Jake  looked  embarrassed.  "  There's  a  pretty  deep 
cut  on  your  forehead." 

"Do  you  suppose  I  can't  feel  it?  But  I  want  to 
know  why  they're  not  satisfied  with  tying  my  fore- 
head up?  You  may  as  well. tell  me,  because  I'm  not 
going  to  sleep  again.     It  looks  as  if  I'd  slept  all  day." 

"  The  cut  runs  through  your  eyelid  and  the  doctor 
thinks  it  wiser  to  be  careful." 

"  About  my  eye  ? " 

"  It's  just  a  precaution,"  Jake  declared.  "  There's 
really  nothing  the  matter,  but  he  thought  it  would  be 
better  to  keep  out  the  strong  light." 

"  Ah ! "  said  Dick,  who  was  not  deceived,  and  was 
silent  for  the  next  few  moments.  Then  he  resumed 
in  a  rather  strained  voice :  "  Well,  let's  talk  about 
something  else.     Where's  Don  Sebastian?" 


RICHTER'S  MESSAGE  333 

"  I  haven't  seen  him  since  lunch,  but  he  spent  the 
morning  interviewing  the  British  authorities." 

"  Do  you  think  he  told  them  to  send  after  Ken- 
wardine  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  Jake  with  a  twinkle,  "  I  rather  think 
he's  put  them  off  the  track,  and  although  he  had  to 
give  them  a  hint  out  of  politeness,  doesn't  want  them 
to  know  too  much.  Then  there's  only  an  old-fash- 
ioned cruiser  here  and  I  understand  she  has  to  stop 
for  a  guardship.  In  fact,  Don  Sebastian  seems  to 
imagine  that  Kenwardine  is  safe  so  long  as  he  keeps 
off  British  soil.  However,  an  official  gentleman  with 
a  refined  taste  in  clothes  and  charming  manners  called 
at  our  hotel  and  is  coming  to  see  you  as  soon  as  the 
doctor  will  let  him." 

Next  morning  Dick  saw  the  gentleman,  who  stated 
his  rank  and  then  asked  a  number  of  questions,  which 
Dick  did  not  answer  clearly.  He  was  glad  that  his 
bandaged  head  gave  him  an  excuse  for  seeming  stupid. 
He  had  done  his  part,  and  now  Kenwardine  could 
do  no  further  harm,  it  would  be  better  for  everybody 
if  he  got  away.     After  a  time,  his  visitor  observed : 

"Well,  you  seem  to  have  rendered  your  country 
a  service,  and  I  expect  you  will  find  things  made 
smooth  for  you  at  home  after  our  report  upon  the  mat- 
ter has  been  received." 

"Ah!  "  said  Dick.  "It  looks  as  if  you  knew  why 
I  left." 

The  gentleman  made  a  sign  of  assent.  "  Your 
Spanish  friend  was  discreet,  but  he  told  us  something. 
Besides,  there  are  army  lists  and  London  Gazettes  in 
Kingston." 

Dick  was  silent  for  a  few  moments,  and  then  said: 


334    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

"  As  a  matter  of  fact,  I  am  not  anxious  to  go  home 
just  yet." 

"Are  you  not?"  the  other  asked  with  a  hint  of 
poHte  surprise.  "  I  do  not  think  there  would  be  much 
difficulty  about  a  new  commission,  and  officers  are 
wanted." 

"  They're  not  likely  to  want  a  man  with  one  eye, 
and  I  expect  it  will  come  to  that,"  Dick  said  grimly. 

His  visitor  was  sympathetic,  but  left  soon  after- 
wards, and  Dick  thought  he  was  not  much  wiser  about 
Kenwardine's  escape  than  when  he  came.  Two  or 
three  weeks  later  he  was  allowed  to  get  up,  although 
he  was  tightly  strapped  with  bandages  and  made  to 
wear  a  shade  over  his  eyes.  When  he  lay  in  the  open 
air  one  morning,  Jake  joined  him. 

"  We  must  get  back  to  Santa  Brigida  as  soon  as  we 
can,"  he  said.  "  They're  planning  an  extension  of  the 
irrigation  scheme,  and  the  old  man  and  Ida  are  com- 
ing out.  The  doctor  seems  to  think  you  might  go 
by  the  next  boat  if  we  take  care  of  you.  But  I'd  bet- 
ter give  you  Kenwardine's  letters.  We  took  them 
out  of  your  pocket  the  night  you  got  hurt,  and  I've 
been  wondering  why  you  haven't  asked  for  them." 

"  Thanks,"  Dick  answered  dully.  "  I  don't  know 
that  I'll  use  them  now.  I'll  be  glad  to  get  back  and 
dare  say  I  can  do  my  work  with  one  eye." 

"  You'll  soon  have  both,"  Jake  declared. 

"It's  doubtful,"  said  Dick.  "I  don't  think  the 
doctor's  very  sanguine." 

On  the  whole,  he  was  relieved  when  Jake  left,  be- 
cause he  found  it  an  effort  to  talk,  but  the  thoughts 
he  afterwards  indulged  in  were  gloomy.  His  broken 
ribs  did  not  trouble  him  much,  but  there  was  some 


RICHTER'S  MESSAGE  335 

risk  of  his  losing  his  eye.  He  had  helped  to  expose 
and  banish  Kenwardine,  and  could  not  ask  Clare  to 
marry  him  after  that,  even  if  he  were  not  half  blind 
and  disfigured.  Besides,  it  was  doubtful  if  he  would 
be  able  to  resume  his  profession  or  do  any  useful  work 
again.  The  sight  of  the  uninjured  eye  might  go.  As 
a  matter  of  fact,  the  strain  he  had  borne  for  some 
time  had  told  upon  his  health  and  the  shock  of  the 
accident  had  made  things  worse.  He  had  sunk  into 
a  dejected,  lethargic  mood,  from  which  he  had  not 
the  vigor  to  rouse  himself. 

A  week  later  he  was  helped  on  board  a  small  French 
boat  and  sailed  for  Santa  Brigida.  He  did  not  im- 
prove with  the  sea  air,  as  Jake  had  hoped,  and  for  the 
most  part  avoided  the  few  passengers  and  sat  alone  in 
the  darkest  corner  he  could  find.  Now  and  then  he 
moodily  read  Kenwardine's  letters.  He  had  at  first 
expected  much  from  them.  They  might  have  removed 
the  stain  upon  his  name  and  the  greatest  obstacle  be- 
tween himself  and  Clare ;  but  he  no  longer  cared  much 
about  the  former  and  the  letters  were  useless  now. 
For  all  that,  he  put  them  carefully  away  in  a  leather 
case  which  he  carried  in  an  inside  pocket. 


CHAPTER  XXXII 

IDA   INTERFERES 

ON  his  return  to  Santa  Brigida,  Dick  went  to  see 
a  Spanish  oculist,  who  took  a  more  hopeful  view 
than  the  Kingston  doctor,  although  he  admitted  that 
there  was  some  danger  of  the  injury  proving  per- 
manent. Dick  felt  slightly  comforted  when  he  learned 
that  the  oculist  was  a  clever  man  who  had  been  well 
known  in  Barcelona  until  he  was  forced  to  leave  the 
city  after  taking  part  in  some  revolutionary  plot.  He 
was,  however,  unable  to  resume  his  work,  and  while 
he  brooded  over  his  misfortunes  a  touch  of  the  ma- 
laria he  had  already  suffered  from  hindered  his  re- 
covery. One  of  the  effects  of  malaria  is  a  feeling  of 
black  depression.  He  was  feebly  struggling  against  the 
weakness  and  despondence  when  Fuller  arrived  and 
soon  afterwards  came  to  see  him.  Dick,  who  was  sit- 
ting in  the  darkest  corner  of  the  veranda,  had  got 
rid  of  his  bandage;  but  an  ugly,  livid  mark  crossed  his 
forehead  to  the  shade  above  his  eyes  and  his  face 
looked  worn.  Fuller  talked  about  the  dam  for  a  time, 
and  then  stopped  and  looked  hard  at  his  silent  com- 
panion. 

"  I  imagined  all  this  would  interest  you,  but  you 
don't  say  much." 

"  No,"  said  Dick.  "  You  see,  it's  galling  to  listen 
to  plans  you  can't  take  part  in.  In  fact,  I  feel  I 
ought  to  resign." 


IDA  INTERFERES  337 

"Why?" 

"  It  looks  as  if  it  may  be  a  long  time  before  I  can 
get  to  work  and  I  may  never  be  of  much  use  again." 

"  Well,  I  suppose  it's  natural  that  you  should  feel 
badly  humped,  but  you  don't  know  that  you'll  lose 
your  eye,  and  if  you  did,  you'd  do  your  work  all  right 
with  the  other.  However,  since  you  started  the  sub- 
ject, I've  something  to  say  about  our  contract.  If 
the  new  scheme  we're  negotiating  goes  through,  as  I 
think  it  will,  I'll  have  to  increase  my  staff.  Should 
I  do  so,  you'll  get  a  move  up  and,  of  course,  better 
pay  for  a  more  important  job." 

Dick,  who  was  touched  by  this  mark  of  confidence, 
thanked  him  awkwardly,  and  although  he  felt  bound 
to  object  that  he  might  be  unable  to  fill  the  new  post, 
Fuller  stopped  him. 

"  All  you  have  to  do  is  to  lie  off  and  take  it  easy 
until  you  get  well.  I  know  a  useful  man  when  I  see 
him  and  it  won't  pay  me  to  let  you  go.  When  I've 
fixed  things  with  the  President  I'll  make  you  an  offer. 
Now  Stuyvesant's  waiting  for  me  and  I  understand 
my  daughter  is  coming  to  see  you." 

He  went  away  and  soon  afterwards  Ida  Fuller  came 
in.  Dick  rather  awkwardly  got  her  a  chair,  for  his 
shade,  which  was  closely  pulled  down,  embarrassed 
him,  but  she  noticed  this,  and  his  clumsiness  made  a 
strong  appeal.  She  liked  Dick  and  had  some  ground 
for  being  grateful  to  him.  For  half  an  hour  she 
talked  in  a  cheerful  strain  and  Dick  did  his  best  to 
respond,  but  she  saw  what  the  effort  cost  and  went 
away  in  a  thoughtful  mood. 

Ida  Fuller  had  both  sympathy  and  self-confidence, 


338     BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

and  when  things  went  wrong  with  her  friends  seldom 
felt  diffident  about  trying  to  put  them  right.  In  con- 
sequence, she  took  Jake  away  from  the  others,  whom 
her  father  had  asked  to  dinner  that  evening. 

"What's  the  matter  with  Dick  Brandon?"  she 
asked. 

"  It's  pretty  obvious.  His  trouble  began  with 
broken  ribs  and  may  end  with  the  loss  of  his  eye;  but 
if  you  want  a  list  of  his  symptoms " 

"  I  don't,"  said  Ida.  **  Does  his  trouble  end  with 
the  injury  to  his  eye?" 

Jake  gave  her  a  sharp  glance.  "If  you  insist  on 
knowing,  I  admit  that  I  have  my  doubts.  But  you 
must  remember  that  Dick  has  a  touch  of  malaria, 
which  makes  one  morbid." 

"But  this  doesn't  account  for  everything?" 

"  No,"  said  Jake,  who  lighted  a  cigarette,  "  I  don't 
think  it  does.  In  fact,  as  I  know  your  capabilities 
and  begin  to  see  what  you're  getting  after,  there's  not 
much  use  in  my  trying  to  put  you  off  the  track," 

Ida  sat  down  in  a  canvas  chair  and  pondered  for 
a  minute  or  two. 

"  You  know  Miss  Kenwardine ;  if  I  recollect,  you 
were  rather  enthusiastic  about  her.  What  is  she 
like?" 

Jake's  eyes  twinkled.  "  You  mean  —  is  she  good 
enough  for  Dick?  He'll  be  a  lucky  man  if  he  gets 
her,  and  I  don't  mind  confessing  that  I  thought  of 
marrying  her  myself  only  she  made  it  clear  that  she 
had  no  use  for  me.  She  was  quite  right;  I'd  have 
made  a  very  poor  match  for  a  girl  like  that." 

Ida  was  not  deceived  by  his  half-humorous  manner, 
for  she  remarked  something  that  it  was  meant  to  hide. 


IDA  INTERFERES  339 

Still,  Jake  had  had  numerous  love  affairs  that  seldom 
lasted  long. 

"  Have  you  been  to  see  her  since  you  came  back  ?  " 
she  asked. 

"Yes,"  said  Jake.  "After  helping  to  drive  her 
father  out  of  the  country,  I  knew  it  would  be  an  awk- 
ward meeting,  but  I  felt  I  ought  to  go  because  she 
might  be  in  difficulties,  and  I  went  twice.  On  the 
whole,  it  was  a  relief  when  I  was  told  she  was  not  at 
home." 

"  I  wonder  whether  she  would  see  me  ?  " 

"  You're  pretty  smart,  but  I  suspect  this  is  too  deli- 
cate a  matter  for  you  to  meddle  with." 

"  I'll  be  better  able  to  judge  if  you  tell  me  what  you 
know  about  it." 

Jake  did  so  with  some  hesitation.  He  knew  his 
sister's  talents  and  that  her  object  was  good,  but  he 
shrank  from  betraying  his  comrade's  secrets. 

"  I  think  I've  put  you  wise,  but  I  feel  rather  mean," 
he  concluded. 

"  What  you  feel  is  not  important.  But  you  really 
think  he  hasn't  sent  her  Kenwardine's  letter?" 

Jake  made  a  sign  of  agreement  and  Ida  resumed : 

"  The  other  letter  stating  that  his  cousin  stole  the 
plans  is  equally  valuable  and  his  making  no  use  of  it 
is  significant.  Your  partner's  a  white  man,  Jake,  but 
he's  foolish  and  needs  the  help  of  a  judicious  friend. 
I  want  both  letters." 

"  I've  warned  you  that  it's  a  dangerous  game.  .You 
may  muss  up  things." 

"Then  I'll  be  responsible.  Can  you  get  the  let- 
ters?" 

"I  think  so,"  Jake  replied  with  an  embarrassed 


340    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

grin.  "  In  a  way,  it's  a  shabby  trick,  but  if  he  will 
keep  papers  in  his  pocket  after  getting  one  lot  stolen, 
he  must  take  the  consequences." 

"  Very  well,"  said  Ida  calmly.  "  Now  we  had  bet- 
ter go  in  before  the  others  wonder  why  we  left  them." 

Next  morning  Clare  sat  in  the  patio  in  very  low 
spirits.  No  word  had  come  from  Kenwardine,  and 
her  money  was  nearly  exhausted.  She  had  heard  of 
Dick's  return,  but  not  that  he  was  injured,  and  he  had 
kept  away.  This  was  not  surprising  and  she  did  not 
want  to  meet  him;  but  it  was  strange  that  he  had  not 
come  to  see  her  and  make  some  excuse  for  what  he 
had  done.  He  could,  of  course,  make  none  that  would 
appease  her,  but  he  ought  to  have  tried,  and  it  looked 
as  if  he  did  not  care  what  she  thought  of  his  treachery. 

Then  she  glanced  up  as  Ida  came  in.  Clare  had 
seen  Ida  in  the  street  and  knew  who  she  was,  but  she 
studied  her  with  keen  curiosity  as  she  advanced.  Her 
dress  was  tasteful,  she  was  pretty,  and  had  a  certain 
stamp  of  refinement  and  composure  that  Clare  knew 
came  from  social  training;  but  she  felt  antagonistic. 
For  all  that,  she  indicated  a  chair  and  waited  until  her 
visitor  sat  down.  Then  she  asked  w^ith  a  level  glance : 
"  Why  have  you  come  to  see  me  ?  " 

"  I  expect  you  mean  —  why  did  I  come  without  get- 
ting your  servant  to  announce  me?  "  Ida  rejoined  with 
a  disarming  smile.  "  Well,  the  gate  was  open,  and 
I  wanted  to  see  you  very  much,  but  was  half  afraid 
you  wouldn't  let  me  in.  I  owe  you  some  apology,  but 
understand  that  my  brother  is  a  friend  of  yours." 

"  He  was,"  Clare  said  coldly. 

"  Then  he  has  lost  your  friendship  by  taking  Dick 
Brandon's  part?" 


IDA  INTERFERES  341 

Clare  colored,  but  her  voice  was  firm  as  she  an- 
swered : 

"  To  some  extent  that  is  true.  Mr.  Brandon  has 
cruelly  injured  us." 

"  He  was  forced.  Dick  Brandon  is  not  the  man 
to  shirk  his  duty  because  it  was  painful  and  clashed 
with  his  wishes." 

"  Was  it  his  duty  to  ruin  my  father?  " 

"  He  must  have  thought  so ;  but  we  are  getting  on 
dangerous  ground.  I  don't  know  much  about  the 
matter.     Do  you?" 

Clare  lowered  her  eyes.  Since  Richter's  visit,  she 
had  had  disturbing  doubts  about  the  nature  of  Ken- 
wardine's  business;  but  after  a  few  moments  she  asked 
in  a  hard,  suspicious  voice :  "  How  do  you  know  so 
much  about  Mr.  Brandon?" 

"  Well,"  said  Ida  cahnly,  "  it's  plain  that  I'm  not 
in  love  with  him,  because  if  I  were,  I  should  not  have 
tried  to  make  his  peace  with  you.  As  a  matter  of 
fact,  I'm  going  to  marry  somebody  else  before  very 
long.  However,  now  I  think  I've  cleared  away  a  pos- 
sible mistake,  I'll  own  that  I  like  Dick  Brandon  very 
much  and  am  grateful  to  him  for  the  care  he  has 
taken  of  my  brother." 

"  He  stopped  Jake  from  coming  here,"  Qare  re- 
joined with  a  blush. 

"  That  is  so,"  Ida  agreed.  "  He  has  done  a  num- 
ber of  other  things  that  got  him  into  difficulties,  be- 
cause he  thought  it  right.  That's  the  kind  of  man  he 
is.  Then  I  understand  he  was  out  of  work  and  feel- 
ing desperate  when  my  father  engaged  him,  he  got 
promotion  in  his  employment,  and  I  asked  him  to  see 
that  Jake  came  to  no  harm.     I  don't  know  if  he  kept 


342    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

his  promise  too  conscientiously,  and  you  can  judge 
better  than  me.  But  I  think  you  ought'  to  read  the 
letters  your  father  gave  him." 

She  first  put  down  Kenwardine's  statement  about 
the  theft  of  the  plans,  and  Clare  was  conscious  of 
overwhelming  relief  as  she  read  it.  Dick  knew  now 
that  she  was  not  the  thief.  Then  Ida  said :  "If  you 
will  read  the  next,  you  will  see  that  your  father  doesn't 
feel  much  of  a  grievance  against  Brandon." 

The  note  was  short,  but  Kenwardine  stated  clearly 
that  if  Clare  wished  to  marry  Brandon  he  would  be 
satisfied  and  advised  her  to  do  so.  The  girl's  face 
flushed  as  she  read  and  her  hands  trembled.  Ken- 
wardine certainly  seemed  to  bear  Dick  no  ill  will. 
But  since  the  latter  had  his  formal  consent,  why  had 
he  not  used  it? 

"  Did  Mr.  Brandon  send  you  with  these  letters  ?  " 
she  asked  as  calmly  as  she  could. 

"  No,  I  brought  them  without  telling  him,  because 
it  seemed  the  best  thing  to  do." 

"  You  knew  what  they  said  ?  " 

"  I  did,"  Ida  admitted.     "  They  were  open." 

Clare  noted  her  confession;  but  she  must  deal  with 
matters  of  much  greater  importance. 

"  Then  do  you  know  why  he  kept  the  letters  back  ?  " 

Ida  hesitated.  If  Clare  were  not  the  girl  she 
thought,  she  might,  by  appealing  to  her  compassion, 
supply  her  with  a  reason  for  giving  Dick  up,  but  if 
this  happened,  it  would  be  to  his  advantage  in  the 
end.  Still  she  did  not  think  she  was  mistaken  and 
she  must  take  the  risk. 

"  Yes,"  she  said.  "  I  feel  that  you  ought  to  under- 
stand his  reasons ;  that  is  really  why  I  came.     It  looks 


IDA  INTERFERES  343 

as  if  you  had  not  heard  that  shortly  after  he  met  your 
father  Dick  fell  down  the  steamer's  hold." 

Clare  made  an  abrupt  movement  and  her  face  got 
anxious.     "Was  he  hurt?" 

"Very  badly.  He  broke  two  ribs  and  the  fever 
he  got  soon  afterwards  stopped  his  getting  better ;  but 
that  is  not  the  worst.  One  of  his  eyes  was  injured, 
and  there  is  some  danger  that  he  may  lose  his  sight." 

It  was  plain  that  Clare  had  got  a  shock,  for  she  sat 
in  a  tense  attitude  and  the  color  left  her  face ;  but  Ida 
saw  that  she  had  read  her  character  right  and  taken 
the  proper  course.  Indeed,  she  wondered  whether 
she  had  not  unnecessarily  harrowed  the  girl's  feelings. 

"  Now,"  she  resumed,  "  you  understand  why  Dick 
Brandon  kept  back  the  letters.  It  is  obvious  that  he 
loves  you,  but  he  is  disfigured  and  may  have  to  give 
up  his  profession " 

She  stopped,  for  Clare's  face  changed  and  her  eyes 
shone  with  a  gentle  light. 

"  But  what  does  that  matter  ? "  she  exclaimed. 
"  He  can't  think  it  would  daunt  me." 

Ida  rose,  for  she  saw  that  she  had  said  enough. 
**  Then  perhaps  you  had  better  show  him  that  you  are 
not  afraid.  If  you  will  dine  with  us  this  evening  at 
the  dam,  you  will  see  him.  Jake  will  come  for  you 
and  bring  you  back." 

When  she  left  a  few  minutes  later  she  had  arranged 
for  the  visit,  and  Clare  sat  still,  overwhelmed  with 
compassionate  gentleness  and  relief.  Her  father  did 
not  blame  Dick  and  there  was  no  reason  she  should 
harden  her  heart  against  him.  He  knew  that  she  was 
innocent,  but  he  was  tied  by  honorable  scruples. 
Well,  since  he  would  not  come  to  her,  she  must  go 


344    BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

to  him,  but  she  would  do  so  with  pride  and  not  false 
shame.  It  was  clear  that  he  loved  her  unselfishly. 
By  and  by,  however,  she  roused  herself.  As  she  was 
going  to  him,  there  were  matters  to  think  about,  and 
entering  the  house  she  spent  some  time  studying  her 
wardrobe  and  wondering  what  she  would  wear. 

That  evening  Dick  sat  on  the  veranda  of  his  shack, 
with  a  shaded  lamp,  which  he  had  turned  low,  on  the 
table  close  by.  His  comrades  were  dining  at  Fuller's 
tent  and  he  had  been  asked,  but  had  made  excuses  al- 
though he  was  well  enough  to  go.  For  one  thing,  it 
hurt  him  to  sit  in  a  strong  light,  though  the  oculist, 
whom  he  had  seen  in  the  morning,  spoke  encourag- 
ingly about  his  eye.  Indeed,  Dick  had  begun  to  think 
that  there  was  now  no  real  danger  of  its  having  re- 
ceived a  permanent  injury.  For  all  that,  he  was  list- 
less and  depressed,  because  he  had  not  got  rid  of  the 
fever  and  malaria  is  generally  worse  at  night.  He 
had  been  cautioned  not  to  read  and  his  cigarette  had 
a  bitter  taste.  There  was  nothing  to  do  but  wait  until 
Jake  came  home.  Now  he  thought  of  it,  Jake  had  ac- 
cepted his  excuses  rather  easily. 

By  and  by,  he  heard  the  lad's  voice  and  footsteps 
on  the  path.  Jake  was  returning  early  and  there  was 
somebody  with  him,  but  Dick  wished  they  had  left 
him  alone.  He  rose,  however,  as  Ida  came  up  the 
steps  and  into  the  light,  which  did  not  carry  far.  Dick 
imagined  there  was  another  person  as  well  as  Jake 
in  the  shadow  behind. 

"  Jake  brought  me  over  to  see  his  last  sketches  and 
I'm  going  in  to  criticize  them,"  she  said.  "  As  you 
couldn't  come  to  us,  I've  brought  you  a  visitor,  whom 
you  know." 


IDA  INTERFERES  345 

Dick  felt  his  heart  beat  as  he  saw  Clare.  She  was 
dressed  in  white,  and  the  silver  clasp  gleamed  against 
a  lavender  band  at  her  waist.  It  was  significant  that 
she  wore  it,  but  he  could  not  see  her  face  clearly. 
Then  Ida  beckoned  Jake. 

"  Come  along ;  I  want  to  look  at  the  drawings." 

They  went  into  the  house,  and  Dick  made  an  effort 
to  preserve  his  self-control.  Clare  moved  into  the 
light  and  he  saw  her  color  rise,  though  her  eyes  \vtre 
very  soft. 

"  Why  didn't  you  tell  me  you  were  ill  ?  "  she  asked 
with  gentle  reproach. 

He  hesitated,  trying  to  strengthen  his  resolution, 
which  he  knew  was  breaking  down,  and  Clare  re- 
sumed : 

"  Besides,  I  don't  think  you  should  have  kept  that 
letter  back." 

Dick  instinctively  pulled  out  the  leather  case,  and 
started  as  he  saw  there  was  nothing  inside. 

"It's  gone.     You  have  seen  it?"  he  stammered. 

"  I've  seen  them  both,"  Clare  answered  with  a  smile. 
"Doesn't  this  remind  you  of  something?  I'm  afraid 
you're  careless,  Dick." 

The  color  rushed  into  his  face.  "  If  you  have  seen 
those  letters,  you  know  what  a  suspicious  fool  I've 
been." 

"  That  doesn't  matter.  You're  convinced  at  last?  " 
Clare  rejoined  with  a  hint  of  pride. 

"  In  a  sense,  I  always  was  convinced.  If  I'd  seen 
you  take  the  wretched  plans,  I  wouldn't  have  held  you 
accountable.  Because  you  took  them,  it  couldn't  have 
been  wrong." 

Clare  blushed,  but  looked  at  him  with  shining  eyes. 


346     BRANDON  OF  THE  ENGINEERS 

"  I  wanted  to  hear  you  say  it  again.  But  it  wasn't 
that  letter  —  I  mean  the  one  about  the  plans  —  that 
brought  me." 

Then  the  last  of  Dick's  self-control  vanished  and 
with  a  half  conscious  movement  he  held  out  his  hands. 
Clare  came  forward  and  next  moment  she  was  in  his 
arms. 

Some  time  later  he  felt  he  must  be  practical  and 
said  in  a  deprecatory  tone :  "  But  you  must  try  to 
understand  what  you  are  doing,  dear,  and  the  sacri- 
fices you  must  make.  Things  aren't  quite  as  bad  as 
they  looked,  but  I  can't  go  home  just  yet  and  may 
always  be  a  poor  engineer."  He  indicated  the  gal- 
vanized-iron  shack.  "  You  will  have  to  live  in  a  place 
like  this,  and  though  I  think  my  eye  will  get  better, 
there's  the  scar  on  my  face " 

Clare  gave  him  a  quiet  smiling  glance.  "  That 
doesn't  matter,  Dick,  and  I  never  really  had  a  home." 
She  paused  and  added  gently :  "  But  I  shall  have  one 
now." 


THE   END 


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